Data Discovery Systems for Not-for-Profit Organizations

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) change the organization's rules of functioning in the contemporary world. The major challenge facing each organization is the necessity to acquire/develop its ability to create, implement and use innovative ICT methods and techniques in all processes it carries out. The study is aimed at not-for-profit organizations. They are in need of organizational, financial, and technological changes in order to fulfil their mission and build their potential effectively. Under existing circumstances these organizations are forced to efficiently use data in resource management. They have to understand that modern ICTs bring internal benefits and contribute to higher efficiency as well as enhanced quality of the services they provide. Data Discovery Systems (DD) are one of the modern technologies which help in achieving these goals. The aim of this chapter is to present the possibility of using DD systems in effective resource management of not-for-profit organizations based on the case study of a selected organization.

Blockchain Technology and Its Applications

Blockchain is an information technology solution for distributed digital record. Its main properties are secure, traceable, and transparent. Blockchain was first proposed for bitcoin, a decentralized virtual digital currency. Recently, blockchain draws attentions of researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors, because people found that blockchain technology can revolutionize many business practices. This paper describes the fundamentals of blockchain technology, including data structure, data distribution, and transaction execution and validation. This paper also discusses the representative blockchain protocols and development platforms. In addition, this paper outlines the potential applications of blockchain technology and the broader impact it might bring to industry, business, and beyond.

Innovation Management Capabilities for R&D in Pakistan

As most of the developing countries Pakistan has not yet structure the national innovation system with any concrete policies in order to assist their domestic requirement without comprehensive development of their R&D capabilities. As compares to some of the emerging economies Pakistan National innovation system (NIS) unfortunately operated in isolation unsynchronized structure may cause serious challenge for R&D sector that still unable to developed innovational capabilities. This study highlights the potential gaps in national innovation structure to facilitate the R&D sector. This study explores the significance of innovation capabilities as during the development of national innovation policy to support the innovation structure.

Organizational Behavior

As organizations adapt to the challenges of technology, an understanding of organizational behavior theories supports the development of new management and leadership behaviors. There has been a paradigm shift in management, calling for the use of positivity rather than negativity. This shift promotes positive organizational policies and procedures while maximizing resources. According to Bakker, negative approach-based terms influenced organizational culture undesirably, and Luthans and Avolio claim developing a positive organizational behavior framework is a source of an organization's competitive advantage. This article explores the evolving theories of organizational behavior addressing the challenges of technology and change, as well as placing the discussion within the context of seminal theories.

Unified Communication Technologies at a Global Automotive Organization

The purpose of the study was addressing the challenge of integrating and managing complex technology-oriented advancements regarding the developing Internet of Things and in the daily lives of people. The research question was: How does digital transformation implemented through Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) technologies impact productivity and innovation within a global automotive organization? A framework for the implementation of UC&C was developed and implemented in one of the world's largest automotive organizations. Following development and implementation of the framework, qualitative and quantitative research were conducted, establishing observational and metric driven data support analysis. A critical realist interpretation of the authoritative research results suggested that digitally transformed UC&C technologies enhance employees' work practices. The study concluded that transformation delivered via a digital framework such as UC&C technologies can impact productivity and create opportunities for driving innovation within a global automotive organization.

Adoption of Blockchain Technology to Improve Integrity of Halal Supply Chain Management

The fast-growing number of Halal integrity issues has attracted the scholar's debate on improving integrity in practicing the Halal supply chain. To investigate how firms comply with Halal procedures in supply chain may not possibly provide much potential research gaps. The application of technology in improving Halal supply chain management on blockchain technology should be given urgent priority. The aim of this chapter is to explore the possibility to integrate blockchain technology to improve the use of Halal supply chain management. Blockchain technology will help the Halal based oriented firm in the supply chain to trace the source of the raw materials, products, labeling information, and Halal product distribution to strengthen the supply chain networks. Blockchain technology-driven Halal supply chain shall overcome and surpass issues related to Halal integrity and certifications which could also have an impact globally.

Big Data Analytics in Supply Chain Management

The current approach to supply chain intelligence has some fundamental challenges when confronted with the scale and characteristics of big data. In this chapter, applications, challenges and new trends in supply chain big data analytics are discussed and background research of big data initiatives related to supply chain management is provided. The methodology and the unified model for supply chain big data analytics which comprises the whole business intelligence (data science) lifecycle is described. It enables creation of the next-generation cloud-based big data systems that can create strategic value and improve performance of supply chains. Finally, example of supply chain big data solution that illustrates applicability and effectiveness of the model is presented.

A Review of Future Energy Efficiency Measures and CO2 Emission Reduction in Maritime Supply Chain

Marine pollution has increased society concerns on issues of coastal, emission, global warming, climate change, and marine ecosystems. The pressures are in the shipping industry to adopt green practices and contribute to the better world. The shipping industry which involves in maritime supply chains has been encouraged to adopt the low carbon technologies and energy efficiency practices. However, to what extent the maritime supply chains practice the energy efficiency measures and CO2 emission reduction remain relatively unknown. While this pursuit is a positive indicator, there is still limited adoption in these seemingly cost-efficient technical and operational measures aiming at reducing energy cost. Thus, it is crucial to understand the current practices in order to institute a more realistic baseline and reliable evaluation towards future energy efficiency improvement. Moreover, all of these reduction measures must go through detailed planning and should engage the attention of management level and maritime stakeholders for effective implementation.

Artificial Neural Network in Operation Management Regarding Communication Issue

Communication issue in operation management is important concern in the age of 21st century. In operation, communication can be described based on major three wings- Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) and Transportation Problem (TP). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is an important tool to handle these systems. In this chapter, different ANN based models are discussed in a comprehensive way. This chapter deals with how various approaches of ANN help to design the optimal communication network. This comprehensive study is important to the decision makers for the analytical consideration. Although there is a lot of development in this particular domain from a long time ago; but only the revolutionary contributed models are taken into account. Another motivation of this chapter is understanding the importance of ANN in the operation management area.

When Do Working Consumers Become Prosumers?

Notions like working consumers, active consumers, and consum-actors are used conjointly and interchangeable with the prosumer concept. But literature findings do not support such bewilderment. Thus, the present paper aims to uncover the relevance of the prosumer concept and examine the specific factors which empower consumers to be become prosumers and participate in co-creation activities. As prosumer characteristics have had limited attention in literature, the authors have chosen a Grounded Theory exploratory approach based on expert understandings of the phenomenon, using both in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts and literature analysis to develop a theoretical model of the concept. After understanding what makes a consumer co-create value with and for a company, management and marketing specialists have all the necessary information to delineate strategic directions for innovative results.