Search Results (62)

Organizations increasingly rely on Agile software development to navigate the complexities of digital transformation. Agile emphasizes flexibility, empowerment, and emergent design, yet large-scale initiatives often extend beyond single teams to include multiple subsidiaries, business units, and regulatory stakeholders. In such contexts, team-level mechanisms such as retrospectives, backlog refinement, and planning events may prove insufficient to achieve alignment across diverse perspectives, organizational boundaries, and compliance requirements. To address this limitation, this paper introduces a complementary framework and a supporting software tool that enable systematic cross-stakeholder alignment. Rather than replacing Agile practices, the framework enhances them by capturing heterogeneous stakeholder views, surfacing tacit knowledge, and systematically reconciling differences into a shared alignment artifact. The methodology combines individual Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM)-based process modeling, iterative harmonization, and an evidence-supported selection mechanism driven by quantifiable performance indicators, all operationalized through a prototype tool. The approach was evaluated in a real industrial case study within the regulated gaming sector, involving practitioners from both a parent company and a subsidiary. The results show that the methodology effectively revealed misalignments among stakeholders’ respective views of the development process, supported structured negotiation to reconcile these differences, and produced a consolidated process model that improved transparency and alignment across organizational boundaries. The study demonstrates the practical viability of the methodology and its value as a complementary mechanism that strengthens Agile ways of working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Full article

This article examines how K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) portrays women’s agency and sorority while curating Korean cultural specificity within the context of global streaming. Adopting a Gender Media Studies approach, the study conducts a scene-indexed close reading of nine key sequences, applying a coding scheme (co-presence, agency, solidarity, body framing, choreography–camera, colour) and a cultural-codes matrix that classifies elements as retained, hybridised, or globalised. Findings show a consistent pattern: when two or more women protagonists appear together, agency and sorority co-occur; this is visible in the narrative arcs and through full-body staging, ensemble composition, and a persistent we/together rhetoric. Korean local specificity is divided by purpose: English-led song hooks extend transnational reach; retained social anchors (space, ritual, foodways, and folklore) preserve locality; and hybridised cues (stylised folklore; idol/traditional blends) manage cultural density without erasure. Authorship and industry context align with this encoding, combining a women centred creative core and Korean cast with on-screen emphasis on women’s friendship, repair, and shared agency. Two tensions remain: traditional attire in spectacle numbers, and the narrow body diversity in the idol-slim body ideal, inviting comparative and interpretative scrutiny. Overall, the case demonstrates how an animated musical can emphasise women’s empowerment and cultural specificity without reducing either to mere marketing tools. Full article

In the process of establishing a protected area system centered on national parks, China’s policies inevitably impact the traditional livelihoods of original community residents, often leading to a diminished sense of social justice. Tourism, serving as a critical bridge between realizing the value of national parks’ ecological products and transitioning community livelihoods, is pivotal for fostering coordination between conservation efforts and community support for tourism. This coordination is essential for enhancing the community’s perception of social justice and achieving the sustainable development goals of national parks. This study aims to investigate the antecedents influencing community willingness to support tourism in national parks. Data were collected from 326 original residents of Wuyishan National Park in China and analyzed using a dual-stage approach that combines Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The findings indicate that all three dimensions of perceived justice—distributive, procedural, and interactional—significantly and positively influence the community’s willingness to support tourism. Community tourism empowerment mediates the relationship between these three dimensions of perceived justice and the support for tourism development. The contrasting results between PLS-SEM and ANN in Model A reveal the complex nature of how perceptions of fairness facilitate community empowerment. Full article

Remote, self-managed neuroempowerment protocols are emerging as promising tools for promoting psychophysical well-being in healthy individuals through scalable, home-based interventions. Rooted in positive psychology, applied psychophysiology, and embodied awareness practices, these protocols increasingly leverage wearable technologies and digital platforms to support self-regulated training in cognitive, emotional, and physical domains. This scoping review explores the current literature on such interventions, guided by a triadic model of subjective well-being encompassing neurocognitive efficiency, psychological balance, and physical fitness. A systematic search across major scientific databases identified 28 studies meeting inclusion criteria, with a focus on home-based interventions targeting healthy adult populations using embodied awareness practices, applied psychophysiology techniques, and empowerment-based strategies. Findings indicate that these interventions yield improvements in attention regulation, stress reduction, and subjective well-being, particularly when combining digital feedback systems with embodied practices. However, significant methodological limitations persist, including the overreliance on self-report measures, lack of longitudinal follow-up, and insufficient integration of objective, multimodal assessment tools. Moreover, few studies explicitly address the role of participant engagement and agency—key elements in neuroempowerment frameworks that conceptualize the individual not as a passive recipient of treatment, but as an active agent in the training process. This review highlights the need for more rigorous and theoretically grounded research, advocating for integrative, adaptive intervention models supported by wearable neurotechnologies. Such approaches hold the potential to enhance motivation, personalize feedback, and promote sustainable well-being in ecologically valid, participant-centred ways. Full article

This study investigates the gendered implications of Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC 2.0, focusing on risks and opportunities for women in the country’s green industrial transition. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines secondary research with multi-stakeholder consultations, including engagement with SEZ authorities, Chinese investors, and women’s professional networks, the paper examines how legal ambiguity, defeminization, and occupational segregation restrict women’s participation and mobility in SEZs. Drawing on global comparative evidence and Pakistan’s specific legal and institutional gaps, the paper argues that SEZs can support gender-equitable industrialization if reforms are integrated into their design and governance. It recommends introducing mandatory gender equity plans in zone licensing, providing targeted skills training for women in high-tech sectors, operationalizing Pakistan’s National Gender Policy Framework within SEZ development, and embedding the Zone Social Responsibility (ZSR) framework across all SEZs to ensure long-term inclusion and empowerment. Full article

In Nigeria’s northwestern states of Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna, mechanized rice production is an important contributor to household income and rural economic activity, especially amid a rapidly growing population projected to exceed 400 million by 2050. This study investigates the socio-economic insights of mechanized rice farmers and assesses the impact of mechanization on income, seasonal production, government support, and rural poverty alleviation. Data were collected from 125 respondents across 14 local government areas by using structured questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics and hybrid machine learning models. The findings show that revenue generation significantly influences the adoption of mechanized rice farming, while government involvement is limited and largely ineffective. Advanced predictive modeling revealed that hybrid approaches, particularly those combining regression and Artificial Neural Networks with Bayesian Optimization, outperformed traditional models in forecasting rice yield. Key challenges identified include the high cost of equipment and restricted access to subsidized inputs. This study concludes that income from rice sales drives mechanization and that targeted policy interventions are necessary to overcome socio-economic barriers and improve productivity. These findings highlight the dual importance of economic empowerment and technological innovation in advancing sustainable rice production and improving livelihoods in Nigeria’s rice-growing regions. Full article

Rural regions around the world continue to struggle with population decline, underutilized infrastructure, and economic stagnation. While tourism is often promoted as a tool for revitalization, conventional approaches tend to prioritize new construction and external ownership, raising concerns about environmental degradation, cultural dilution, and community exclusion. This study adopts a circular economy perspective to explore how adaptive reuse—repurposing abandoned buildings—can support sustainable rural tourism. Focusing on two rural cases in South Korea, the study examines the role of tourism cooperatives in transforming underused facilities into guesthouses, retail shops, visitor centers, and community hubs. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach combining interviews, observations, and content analysis, this study identified how cooperatives mobilize local resources, preserve cultural and natural assets, and reinvest tourism revenues into community-led initiatives. Findings reveal that cooperative-led adaptive reuse enhances local empowerment, cultural preservation, and economic sustainability. This study concludes that embedding circular economy principles within rural tourism fosters resilience and community-driven revitalization and that tourism cooperatives serve as an effective governance structure for implementing circular economy practices. Full article

The research explores how artificial intelligence-based chatbots transform psychological and legal assistance in situations of gender-based violence, evaluating their effect on women’s digital empowerment. A cross-sectional design with a mixed approach was used, combining a 25-item survey of 1000 women and a quantitative analysis using multiple correspondences and clustering techniques, supplemented by semi-structured interviews. The findings show that 64% considered the use of chatbots useful for accessing information, although only 27% used them to report incidents due to structural and digital barriers. Participants from rural areas faced severe connectivity limitations and expressed distrust of artificial intelligence, while those who interacted frequently demonstrated greater autonomy, decision-making capacity, and confidence in seeking support. Qualitative analysis showed that users valued confidentiality and anonymity as essential elements for sharing experiences of violence that they did not reveal in face-to-face settings. They also highlighted that immediate interaction with chatbots created a perception of constant support, reducing isolation and motivating users to seek formal help. The conclusion is that designing gender-focused chatbots and integrating them into care systems is an innovative and effective way to expand access to justice and psychological care. Full article

Background: Unintended adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain pressing public health concerns in Northeastern Thailand. Although school-based sexuality education is widespread, risk behaviors persist, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. This study evaluated the SESS (System–Empowerment–Support–Social Network) model, a multi-component framework designed to strengthen adolescent sexual health. Methods: A quasi-experimental, two-school study was conducted among 240 students aged 15–19 years in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. One school (n = 120) implemented a 16-week SESS program, while a comparison school (n = 120) continued with the standard curriculum. The SESS model combined system coordination, empowerment workshops, peer and institutional support, and digital platforms (Facebook, LINE). Data were collected with validated questionnaires and analyzed using ANCOVA, adjusting for baseline values. Exploratory analyses reported mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Groups were comparable at baseline. Post-intervention, the intervention school showed higher perception scores (mean difference = +13.0; 95% CI: 10.5–17.0) and preventive practice scores (mean difference = +14.0; 95% CI: 10.1–17.9). Attitudes showed minimal change. No pregnancies or self-reported STI cases were documented among intervention participants during the follow-up period. Conclusions: In this two-school quasi-experimental evaluation, the SESS model was associated with improvements in perceptions and practices, though attitudinal changes were limited. Findings suggest the feasibility of integrating empowerment, social support, and digital engagement into school-based programs while highlighting the need for multi-school trials to establish effectiveness. Full article

As Industry 5.0 emerges as a human-centric evolution of industrial systems, this study investigates the effectiveness of training interventions in companies aimed at supporting the transition to Industry 5.0, emphasizing human-centric and resilient skill development. Drawing from multiple case studies involving engineers and operators, the research applies both meta-analysis and meta-regression to assess the added value of experiential learning approaches such as Teaching and Learning Factories. In addition, a novel methodology combining quantitative analyses with qualitative interpretation of emerging competences is presented. Principal Component Analysis and classification frameworks are employed to identify and organize key competence clusters along technological, organizational, and social dimensions. Special attention is given to the emergence of human-centered competences such as decision empowerment, which are shown to complement traditional operational capabilities. The findings confirm that experiential training interventions enhance both self-efficacy and adaptive operational readiness, while the use of fusion techniques enables the generalization of results across heterogeneous corporate settings. This work contributes to ongoing discourse on Industry 5.0 readiness by linking training design to strategic company incentives and highlights the role of structured evaluation in informing future policy and implementation pathways. Full article

This article explores the concept of Inclusive Learning Communities (ILCs) by combining theoretical perspectives with practical school-based case studies. Drawing from interdisciplinary fields such as education, sociology, and social work, this study investigates how inclusive practices can be implemented in both formal and informal educational settings. Through five distinct projects—ranging from civic participation to writing workshops and service-learning—this article highlights how inclusive pedagogical approaches can foster equity, participation, and social cohesion. The findings underscore the importance of long-term partnerships, collaborative design, and context-sensitive implementation strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ultimately, this article demonstrates that inclusive learning communities can serve as transformative spaces for lifelong learning and social empowerment. Full article

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has widened the gap between urban and rural development, due to inefficient land markets and weak institutional systems in rural areas. China’s innovative “Urban–rural Construction Land Linkage” policy was designed to address this imbalance by encouraging rural land consolidation and creating a transferable development rights mechanism. While this approach has shown potential in improving the utilization efficiency of existing construction land and continuously supplying urban development space, concerns remain about its actual benefits to villagers and rural development, with some arguing it disrupts traditional livelihoods and favors government interests over rural needs. To respond to this debate, this study investigates two core questions: first, does China’s transferable land development rights (TDR) program genuinely improve rural welfare as intended; second, why does the theoretically preferred self-organized governance model sometimes fail in practice? To address these research questions, this paper develops a new analytical framework combining the IAD framework of Ostrom with the hierarchical institutional framework of Williamson to examine three implementation approaches in China’s TDR implementation: government-dominated, market-invested, and self-organized models. Based on case studies, surveys, and interviews across multiple regions, this study reveals distinct strengths and weaknesses in each approach in improving villagers’ lives. Government-dominated projects demonstrate strong resource mobilization but limited community participation. Market-based models show efficiency gains but often compromise equity. While self-organized initiatives promise greater local empowerment, they frequently face practical challenges including limited management capacity and institutional barriers. Furthermore, this study identifies the preconditional institutional environment necessary for successful self-organized implementation, including clear land property rights, financial support, and technical assistance. These findings advance global understanding of how to combine efficiency with fair outcomes for all stakeholders in land governance, which is particularly relevant for developing countries seeking to manage urban expansion while protecting rural interests. Full article

In the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, rural women agripreneurs encounter ongoing structural challenges in accessing formal finance, securing land rights, and gaining leadership roles, despite their vital contribution to agriculture and food security. This research combines a thematic review of secondary sources from 2018 to 2024 with an embedded case study based on primary qualitative data with women involved in the Citrus Growers Association–Grower Development Company (CGA–GDC) public–private partnership. This dual approach connects local, real-world entrepreneurial experiences with global financial inclusion initiatives, especially the G20 Women’s Empowerment Principles and the G20 Development Agenda. The findings highlight a consistent gap between policy and practice: while frameworks at both national and international levels advocate for women’s financial inclusion, actual implementation in rural agribusiness often neglects gender differences. Women’s engagement is limited by insecure land rights, restricted access to formal credit, male-controlled cooperative management, and insufficient gender-specific data monitoring. Drawing comparative insights from Kenya, India, and West Africa, the study proposes seven interconnected policy suggestions, such as establishing gender-disaggregated data systems, expanding women-led cooperatives, reforming land tenure laws, including entrepreneurial financial literacy in capacity-building programmes, and utilising gender-sensitive digital finance solutions. By connecting grassroots empirical evidence with global policy discussions, this study aims to contribute to academic debates and practical efforts to develop gender-responsive financial ecosystems, thereby boosting women’s economic independence, entrepreneurial activity, and rural progress in South Africa and similar contexts in the Global South. Full article

Digital transformation enhances the processes and efficiency of enterprise green innovation through technological empowerment, while the ESG framework guides the direction and value of such innovation via institutional norms. However, existing studies often examine digital transformation and ESG in isolation, resulting in insufficient exploration of their synergistic effects. Based on data from manufacturing high-tech enterprises, this study employs necessary condition analysis (NCA) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) to systematically examine the synergistic effects of digital transformation and ESG on enterprise green innovation. The key findings are as follows: (1) While no single factor constitutes a necessary condition for high green innovation, the elements of social governance and digital management demonstrate universal applicability in enabling enterprises to achieve high levels of green innovation. (2) The dual-core-driven configuration achieves green innovation through the synergy between social governance and digital management, with its specific pathways varying according to the coordinated combinations of auxiliary factors. This delineates three distinct types, including compliance-oriented, environmentally empowered, and comprehensively balanced pathways. (3) The digitally driven configuration establishes an endogenous linkage between technological innovation and green development through the deep coupling of digital technology R&D and application. (4) The low green innovation configuration exhibits insufficient efficacy due to either isolated single elements or the absence of digital management, resulting in suboptimal green innovation performance. This study empirically demonstrates that the effective advancement of green innovation fundamentally relies on the endogenous dynamics of social governance, the technological underpinnings of digital management, and the systemic synergy among key elements, offering significant strategic implications for enterprises to develop differentiated green innovation approaches. Full article

Psychological distress remains a significant public health concern, particularly among youth. With the growing integration of mobile and wearable technologies into daily life, digital phenotyping has emerged as a promising approach for early self-detection and intervention in psychological distress. Objectives: The study aims to determine how behavioral and device-derived data can be used to identify early signs of emotional distress and to develop and evaluate a prototype system that enables users to self-detect these early warning signs, ultimately supporting early intervention and improved mental health outcomes. Method: To achieve this, this study involved a multi-phase, mixed-method approach, combining literature review, system design, and user evaluation. It started with a scoping review to guide system design, followed by the design and development of a prototype system (ESFY) and a mixed-method evaluation to assess its feasibility and utility in detecting early signs of psychological distress through digital phenotyping. Results: The results demonstrate the potential of digital phenotyping to support early self-detection for psychological distress while highlighting practical considerations for future deployment. Conclusions: The findings highlight the value of integrating active and passive data streams, prioritizing transparency and user empowerment, and designing adaptable systems that respond to the diverse needs and concerns of end users. The recommendations outlined in this study serve as a foundation for the continued development of scalable, trustworthy, and effective digital mental health solutions. Full article