Using PEST as a framework for analyzing open mobility dataz

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Delay causes analysis in complex construction projects; a Semantic Network Analysis approach

Delays are among the most crucial adversaries to the success and performance of construction projects, making delay analysis and management a critical task for project managers. This task will be highly complicated in large-scale projects such as construction, which usually consist of a complex network of heterogeneous entities in continuous interaction. Traditional approaches and methods for the analysis of delays and their causes have been criticised for their ability to handle complex projects, and for considering the interrelationships between delay causes. Addressing this gap, this research introduces an alternative approach for delay causes analysis by adopting Semantic Network Analysis (SNA) method. The paper reports the results from an investigation of delays in construction projects in the Oil-Gas-Petrochemical sector using SNA. The method’s capacity to identify and rank delay causes, which can assist managers in selecting appropriate measures for eliminating them, are empirically examined and discussed. The paper argues that SNA leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the main causes of delay in large and complex projects, allowing a better identification and mapping of the interrelationships between these discrete factors

Port competitiveness in North East Asia : an integrated fuzzy approach to expert evaluations

Despite the fact that the Northeast Asia (NEA) region, which had four of the top five and 20 of the top 30 container ports in the world in 2003, can be regarded as holding a central position in liner shipping and the handling of container cargo volumes, very little research has been done into the evaluation of its port competitiveness (EPC). For this reason, the EPC in NEA can be regarded as a problematic and urgent issue to be solved, and worthy of academic attention. From this aspect, this research set out to attempt to address the above issue by means of utilizing expert knowledge. However, the EPC contains problems of complex multipleattributes and multiple-hierarchies (CMAMH). In addition, difficulties concerning certain characteristics of evaluation such as complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity are also involved. To deal with such problems, in this research, the employment of integrated fuzzy evaluation (IFE) as a methodology was decided upon. As a result of the adaptation of the methodology, certain indications from this research to the theory and practice for container ports have emerged and are clearly identifiable. With regard to theory, this study has contributed to theoretical development significantly in four ways. First, the factors and taxonomy of port competitiveness for the container ports in NEA have been provided for the first time. Second, this is the first integrated approach for the EPC in NEA, the most competitive area in the world. Third, this research was also the first to attempt extracting critical weak points and/or influential factors affecting current port competitiveness. Finally, the adoption of IFE made it possible for the first time to uncover the interactive relationships between the competing container ports. In terms of practice, this research has also provided certain contributions of utmost importance. First of all, the study has provided a suggestion for the most recent port ranking in respect of port competitiveness. Moreover, changes in competitiveness power, which are dynamically and interactively affected by the relationship between the ports, have been successfully estimated and suggested. Thus, such changes in the competitiveness in NEA can now be easily forecasted by port actors

RECURSOS DINÂMICOS DE UMA CIDADE INTELIGENTE: É POSSÍVEL CONSIDERAR A PARTICIPAÇÃO DO CIDADÃO NUMA ESTRATÉGIA BOTTOM-UP?

Purpose: Este artigo tem como objetivo identificar os problemas e soluções de uma cidade nas perspectivas dos cidadãos e apresentar essa abordagem como parte de uma estrutura de cidade inteligente mais ampla que se concentra em capacidades dinâmicas.Design/methodology/approach: Nosso estudo de caso enfoca na cidade de Florianópolis, onde uma pesquisa aberta é usada como um instrumento de coleta de dados primários, com respostas e opiniões do cidadão. As análises são baseadas em conceitos da teoria, que são empregados para converter essas informações em insights acionáveis.Findings: O sistema de cidade inteligente se concentra principalmente na integração de três componentes: econômico, ambiental e social. O componente social inclui a democracia participativa com engajamento do cidadão. Adotamos esta abordagem pois buscamos compreender de forma aprofundada as questões enfrentadas pelos residentes locais, que estão diretamente envolvidos na vida urbana.Research, Practical & Social implications: Como resultado, apresentamos cinco clusteres que caracterizam a relações entre problemas identificados e proposta de soluções para a cidade, considerando questões como mobilidade urbana, questões sociais, de moradia, de sustentabilidade e de lazer e cultura. Neste estudo realizado na cidade de Florianópolis, concentramo-nos no componente social de uma cidade inteligente. Utilizamos uma abordagem bottom-up, envolvendo um grupo-alvo composto por cidadãos proeminentes e altamente engajados que residem e trabalham nas proximidades do centro da cidade.Originality/value: Ao direcionar nossa atenção para esse grupo específico de cidadãos, foi possível obter insights valiosos sobre os desafios e preocupações que eles enfrentam em seu dia a dia. Essa abordagem de baixo para cima nos permitiu capturar a realidade vivenciada pelos cidadãos diretamente afetados pelos problemas urbanos. Ao envolver um grupo relativamente pequeno, mas representativo, fomos capazes de obter informações detalhadas sobre os problemas diários que eles experimentam, possibilitando uma compreensão mais abrangente das necessidades e aspirações da comunidade. Essa perspectiva social, centrada nas percepções e experiências dos cidadãos, contribui para uma abordagem mais inclusiva e direcionada na construção de uma cidade inteligente. Com base nos resultados desse estudo de caso em Florianópolis, é possível direcionar esforços e implementar soluções que atendam de maneira mais eficaz às demandas e expectativas da população, visando melhorar a qualidade de vida e promover um desenvolvimento sustentável na cidade. Além disso nossa abordagem tem o potencial de ajudar os formuladores de políticas a projetar uma estratégia abrangente em direção ao objetivo da cidade inteligente

Study on open science: The general state of the play in Open Science principles and practices at European life sciences institutes

Nowadays, open science is a hot topic on all levels and also is one of the priorities of the European Research Area. Components that are commonly associated with open science are open access, open data, open methodology, open source, open peer review, open science policies and citizen science. Open science may a great potential to connect and influence the practices of researchers, funding institutions and the public. In this paper, we evaluate the level of openness based on public surveys at four European life sciences institute

Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction towards E-shopping in Malaysia

Online shopping or e-shopping has changed the world of business and quite a few people have decided to work with these features. What their primary concerns precisely and the responses from the globalisation are the competency of incorporation while doing their businesses. E-shopping has also increased substantially in Malaysia in recent years. The rapid increase in the e-commerce industry in Malaysia has created the demand to emphasize on how to increase customer satisfaction while operating in the e-retailing environment. It is very important that customers are satisfied with the website, or else, they would not return. Therefore, a crucial fact to look into is that companies must ensure that their customers are satisfied with their purchases that are really essential from the ecommerce’s point of view. With is in mind, this study aimed at investigating customer satisfaction towards e-shopping in Malaysia. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed among students randomly selected from various public and private universities located within Klang valley area. Total 369 questionnaires were returned, out of which 341 questionnaires were found usable for further analysis. Finally, SEM was employed to test the hypotheses. This study found that customer satisfaction towards e-shopping in Malaysia is to a great extent influenced by ease of use, trust, design of the website, online security and e-service quality. Finally, recommendations and future study direction is provided. Keywords: E-shopping, Customer satisfaction, Trust, Online security, E-service quality, Malaysia