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The R&D status of joint patents on germanium dioxide, a promising next-generation power semiconductor, was analyzed using network analysis. By examining joint patent applications over time, the results show that, although the number of joint patent applications as a result of R&D competition has increased year by year, the content of the network has become more R&D intensive since the 2010s, as network indicators such as the number of nodes and the number of cluster counts show a decrease in the no. of nodes and the number of edges, as well as the clustering of a small number of nodes. We also identified power-law distributions in the proximity and eigenvector centrality graphs. The analysis integrates various network centrality indicators, time-series network diagrams suggesting a significant correlation between changes in the research network involved in power device manufacturing and dynamic shifts in new market creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We present a novel approach to the adaptation of implementation recommendations from clinical guidelines into implementation strategies, using care of familial hypercholesterolaemia as an example. • We provide guidance on how implementation strategies can be tailored to local-contexts by key partners. • We draw upon existing programs in the literature to highlight how the application of this process is feasible. The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) published an evidence-informed guidance for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) that provides both clinical and implementation recommendations. We reference examples of strategies from the literature to explore how these implementation recommendations can be tailored into implementation strategies at the local-level for stakeholders guided by a framework proposed by Sarkies and Jones. Four authors of the IAS guidance selected two published exemplar implementation recommendations for detection, management, and general implementation. Each recommendation was described as an implementation strategy using Proctor's guidance for specifying and reporting implementation strategies. It recommends reporting the actor (who), action (what), action-target (who is impacted), temporality (how often), and dose (how much) for each implementation strategy. Detection: A centralized cascade testing model, mobilized nurses (actor) to relative's homes, after the diagnosis of the proband (temporality), once (dose) to consent, obtain a blood sample and health information (action) on relatives (action-target). Management: A primary care initiative to improve FH management included an educational session (action) with clinicians (action-target), computer-based reminder message and message to patients to have their cholesterol screened once (dose) at a visit or outreach (temporality) by researchers (actor). General: A partnership between a statewide public pathology provider, local public hospital network, primary health network, government health ministry, and an academic university (actors) was established to implement a primary-tertiary shared care model (action) to improve the detection of FH (action-target). We demonstrate that implementation recommendations can be specified and reported for different local contexts with examples on monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems are nowadays a dominant organizational form in the digital age. But this construct lacks consensus on its empirical scope, its key theoretical features and its theoretical roots. The paper proposes an integrative framework as well as a method and a tool for calculating an ecosystem based on simplicial complexes and the HYPE platform. It concludes that a data-driven and visualization approach is needed to the study of the dynamic, emergent and adaptive dimensions of today's platform-based ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we address a gap in the business process management literature (BPM) on the capabilities needed for interacting with actors outside of the organization as drivers for process innovation. Several authors in the BPM field point to an ambidextrous approach in managing innovations that imply both revolutionary and evolutionary process changes. Others study BPM in the context of digitalization and conclude that the view of necessary capabilities for managing BPM should be updated with capabilities that fit the needs of digitalization. We base our conceptualization on these premises and analyze case examples from 29 in-depth interviews in four business clusters supported by secondary data from project documents and a survey. From this, we propose extensions to process management capabilities to address the need for managing co-creation with external actors as input to digital innovations. In our response to closing the competence gap in the BPM literature we contribute to further theorizing by conceptualizing new BPM activities related to business network co-creation as input to process innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Community Helpers Programme (CHP) is a peer-helping programme providing youth and young adults with tools to support their peers to problem solve and seek mental health and suicide prevention support. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the provincial programme (primary outcomes = knowledge, self-efficacy; secondary outcome = awareness of stigma) and describe the experience of participants, coordinators, and others. The mixed methods evaluation included a longitudinal panel design outcome evaluation along with follow-up interviews. A series of three surveys collecting participant characteristics, knowledge, self-efficacy, and awareness of stigma at pre-training (T0), post-training (T1), and six-months follow-up (T2) were conducted. Mean group scores were calculated for completers (T0 and T1 completers and T0, T1, and T2 completers). Friedman tests were conducted to assess change over time and follow-up Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests determined the significance of changes in scores between each timepoint. Content analysis was conducted on qualitative data. Participants' knowledge of mental health, suicide, and available supports along with self-efficacy increased from T0 to T1, and declined at T2. Awareness of stigma was high at all timepoints. Themes from the qualitative analysis included skill and knowledge development facilitators (e.g., consideration of learner needs, passionate coordinators, engaged learning approaches), sustaining community helper connectedness (e.g., helpers' network, awareness of and communication with local resources), and role and impact of CHP (e.g., addressing stigma, success stories). This evaluation demonstrated that CHP was effective and offered feedback on experiences, including suggestions on CHP strengths and aspects to explore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the role of formal institutions of contract enforcement in facilitating investments in small and medium firms(MSME). In a framework where established entrepreneurs can enforce contracts informally using their network ties and hierarchical advantage, we argue that an efficient formal judiciary helps entrepreneurs without any ties to informal business networks, disproportionately more. We test our theoretical prediction using a novel administrative panel-data from Indian courts and the nationally representative MSME survey data. Empirically, we treat entrepreneurs from disadvantaged castes (SC-ST) as those without traditional business-network ties. We find that improvement in court quality has a disproportionately larger impact on the investment decisions of SC-ST entrepreneurs. On average, if the time taken for a court to clear all existing cases reduces by 1 year, the initial gap in the probability of investing, between SC-ST and other entrepreneurs, gets reduced by 0.6-0.7 percentage points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerulus harvesting plays a crucial role in sustaining coastal communities in Indonesia. However, there is limited information available on the local socio-economic impact of this fishery. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex fishery system and the socio-economic variability within the puerulus fishery. The study examines the social dimensions by analysing connections among fishers and traders in diverse regions to identify trading variations and supply chain arrangements. Data from 75 puerulus fishers and 12 traders in Cisolok, Cilacap, Prigi, Popoh, and Lombok was collected through structured questionnaires, profiling livelihood conditions, operations, social networks, business arrangements, supply chains. The results highlight the significant impact of robust information sharing and agreements within local trade networks on the financial benefits generated through puerulus fishing for coastal fishers. Fishing and business arrangements are influenced by the characteristics of the local trade network, including geographic and economic resources. In summary, puerulus harvesting is important for coastal fishers, interconnected with trade relationships and networks. Transparency in information sharing through patron-client systems in puerulus fisheries is found to be a significant factor influencing the generation and distribution of benefits across different stakeholders in the supply chain. • Puerulus harvesting is economically and socially important for fishers in coastal communities. • Characteristics of the local trade network influences the financial performance of fishers. • Transparent business arrangement and proximity to larger markets sustain puerulus harvesting business. • Strong social capital can potentially lead to co-management and compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business cycles tend to comove across countries. However, standard models that attribute comovement to propagation of exogenous shocks struggle to generate a level of comovement that is as high as in the data. In this paper, we consider models that produce business cycles endogenously, through some form of non-linear dynamics—limit cycles or chaos. These models generate stronger comovement, because they combine shock propagation with synchronization of endogenous dynamics. In particular, we study a demand-driven reduced-form model in which business cycles emerge from strategic complementarities within countries, synchronizing their oscillations through international trade linkages. We develop an eigendecomposition that explores the interplay between non-linear dynamics, shock propagation and network structure, and use this theory to understand the mechanisms of synchronization. Next, we calibrate the model to data on 24 countries and show that the empirical level of comovement can only be matched by combining endogenous business cycles with exogenous shocks. Despite the limitations of using a stylized model, our results support the hypothesis that business cycles are at least in part caused by underlying non-linear dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, significant use of social network services (SNSs) for career-related purposes has begun to emerge. However, relatively few studies have explored the adverse effects of networking on SNSs, and the existing literature has overlooked its potential consequences. Drawing on upward social comparison theory, this study investigates how networking on SNSs affects career satisfaction through an upward social comparison mechanism leading to ego depletion. To achieve this, we carried out two studies. In Study 1, the hypotheses were tested using a sample of 408 workers. The results indicated that networking on SNSs is negatively related to career satisfaction through a sequential mediation of upward social comparison and ego depletion. In Study 2, we examined this mechanism using a longitudinal design with a three-wave survey of 157 workers, replicating and confirming the findings of Study 1. Both studies demonstrated the process through which networking on SNSs might produce adverse effects on career satisfaction. These findings offer guidance for career counselors, training and development professionals, and managers who want to limit the negative side of networking on SNSs. Different implications for theory and practice are discussed. • Networking on SNS is related to upward social comparison • Upward social comparison leads to higher ego-depletion • Networking on SNS is related to ego-depletion through upward social comparison • Two studies, using cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, have shown that networking on SNS is related to a decrease of career satisfaction through upward social comparison and ego-depletion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change pressures businesses to adapt, but knowledge on adaptation strategies remains fragmented. This systematic literature review addresses this gap by advancing the adaptation field in three ways. First, it expands the conceptualization of business adaptation strategies through a novel classification based on depth, time, locus, and tactic. Second, it identifies five key determinants influencing adaptation decisions: regulatory and stakeholder pressures, industry specificities, business network features, organizational capabilities, and individual characteristics. Finally, the review proposes a comprehensive framework with three tiers: 1) determinants at various levels, 2) types of adaptation strategies, and 3) adaptation impacts. This framework offers novel research avenues for scholarship and enables a more nuanced assessment of the impact of adaptation strategies. Additionally, a 'reverse roadmap' is proposed to help practitioners and policymakers navigate from desired adaptation outcomes back to current choices, increasing resilience while limiting maladaptation risks. • We classify adaptation strategies according to depth, time, locus, and tactic. • We identify and arrange into levels of analysis five determinants of adaptation. • Impacts of adaptation strategies are under-studied, limiting effective adaptation design. • We propose a framework to assess the impacts of adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the novel concept of "social features for process-oriented business objects" that extends existing research on the Social Network of Business Objects (SoNBO). In SoNBO, data is extracted from heterogenous source systems in the form of business objects and a user-specific knowledge graph is generated and used as a navigation structure in a web application (the so-called SoNBO Explorer). Up to now, the SoNBO Explorer has been limited to information retrieval and access, which is now enriched with interactive functionality, the so called "social features", that allow the user to add content and thus interact with the information objects. The solution builds on the idea of "social profiles" that are used to represent people in Enterprise Social Networks and extends this idea to business objects. People and objects become (equal) nodes in a knowledge graph on which the user can perform (social) functionality (e.g. following, liking, commenting, tagging, etc.). This way the idiosyncratic functionalities of human-centred collaboration software is applied to process-aware ERP systems. We present the formalisation of our concept in the Social Business Object Ontology (SoBOOnt). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coworking has been a largely urban phenomenon although new initiatives are emerging in rural areas. Rural coworking is partly a response to the growing need for ICT, which is unevenly provided across rural areas, and partly to the social needs of freelancers and home-workers. By combining technological and social functions, coworking spaces can play key roles in the progress of a Smart Countryside, supporting digital, knowledge-based and creative entrepreneurs within rural places, thus reducing the need for extensive commuting and out-migration, particularly among younger and higher-skilled workers. As working practices evolve in the aftermath of Covid-19, these new physical spaces are expected to facilitate new network connections. Castells' Network Society provides a valuable lens through which to investigate how coworking founders and managers promote a mix of internal and external networks that might create new, and superior, entrepreneurial opportunities. The research highlights strategies to promote collaboration as well as methods of adapting to meet new demands from rural workers in a range of rural settings. As an array of different rural coworking models evolve, we also reflect on the importance of inclusivity and identity in determining their relationship with other actors in the local economy. • Castells' Network Society is applied to understand changes in the rural economy. • Distinctive success factors for rural co-working spaces are identified. • Rural co-working spaces create and sustain new business networks. • Co-working embodies a 'smart countryside', mixing social and technological elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Educator roles in medicine are expanding yet career paths and definitions of successful careers are not uniformly agreed upon. Educator success from their own perspective has not been broadly explored as these studies usually occur from the institutional or organizational viewpoint. This study examined the impact of a national educational faculty development program (FDP) for academic pediatricians on educators' self-description of their own professional and personal success. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, qualitative study of FDP alumni between 2019-2021. Interviews explored participants perspectives on their professional success, and supports and barriers. Using an iterative process, thematic analysis of the data identified 6 themes. RESULTS: Fourteen scholars were interviewed. All felt they were successful citing both outcome and impact measures categorized into 6 themes: personal attributes, adequate resources and barriers, foundational skill development, experiencing strong mentoring and networking, engaging, and being connected to a community of practice and self-identifying as a medical educator. To view the data holistically, a model incorporating 3 frameworks was developed. CONCLUSIONS: These educators viewed themselves as successful academic educators. While papers, promotions and positions were important, educators viewed impact in mentoring and collaborations with others, along with acquired expertise and an expanded viewpoint of the field and themselves as equally important. Educators and leaders could use these elements for their own self-assessment and support, FDP development and enhancement, and for investment in programs and faculty educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Irregular debt-financed migration is popularly associated with trafficking and debt bondage. • 'Safe migration' advocates use this argument to promote orderly and regular migration. • A socio-economic study of debt challenges pessimistic accounts of debt. • Debt allows brokers and sex workers to form a lasting and trust-based relationship. • Belonging, interdependence and reciprocity provide network stability and ensure circular migration. In popular thinking, debt evokes notions of vulnerability and bondage, while irregular migration for sex work conjures up the hazards of human trafficking and modern slavery 1 1 The term 'irregular migration' refers to 'movement of persons that takes place outside the laws, regulations, or international agreements governing the entry into or exit from the State of origin, transit or destination', as defined by the International Organisation for Migration. Vietnamese sex workers enter Singapore legally or regularly with a valid Social Visit Pass. However, they break the law by working without a proper working visa and in a sector, the sex trade, that is illegal. As a result, they are deemed irregular migrants by the Singaporean authorities.. These perceptions inform 'safe migration' policies aimed at ordering and regulating migration and combating informality to increase migrants' safety and well-being; the assumption being that illegality puts migrants at risk of abuse. This article challenges these assumptions with an ethnographic study of brokerage practices in the quasi-family networks that facilitate the irregular and circular migration of Vietnamese sex workers to Singapore. In these networks, brokers sell a migration package on credit to their clients, the migrant sex workers, who repay it through sexual labour. This package includes all the services necessary for the women to migrate temporarily and work safely in Singapore. Most crucially, it serves as an entrée into the broker's business and social network, as a way of forming an enduring relationship. Without denying the power of debt to create inequality, obligation and exploitation, this article shows that debt can also be a profitable, non-coercive and reciprocal device for brokers and sex workers alike, a vector of 'safety' which limits some of the risks they encounter in a repressive and uncertain host environment. This finding stems from a novel framework in economic anthropology, the 'socio-economy of debt' (Guérin, 2018), which complicates moral views of debt through an empirical examination of the materiality, power dynamics and social and moral meanings of debt arrangements and relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural businesses tend to rely on 'collaborative strategies' to cope with their adverse locational effects. They are known to sustain strong local ties, and some rural businesses also have 'pipelines' to faraway places. While, in general, the effects of 'networking,' especially for small rural businesses, have been intensively studied, there still remain important gaps in the literature, which we seek to address: first, 'networks' are often conceptualized rather broadly; second, different types of networks have been looked at in isolation; and third, the outcomes of networking remain unclear. Based on a survey of rural microbusinesses in Germany (n = 166), we shed light on the various collaborative strategies that these businesses sustain. We simultaneously estimate the effects of horizontal, vertical and private networks on business growth and innovativeness in a structural equation mode (SEM). This is important because overwhelmingly, rural development programs focus on the establishment of localized business networks alone, neglecting the important knowledge inflows along the vertical business chain. Indeed, our results show that vertical networks and horizontal networks are both strongly associated with innovativeness and subsequently growth. This calls for a balanced strategy to support rural entrepreneurs, combining regional cooperation and integration in extra-regional value chains. • Survey Data on networking and innovation activities of rural businesses. • Focus on regional (food) marketing networks as drivers of innovation and business growth. • Structural equation model (SEM) assesses effects of different networks simultaneously. • High level of innovativeness among rural businesses organized in regional (food) marketing networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This two-part survey study focused on external and internal food fraud vulnerability in Finnish food businesses. The aim of Study 1 was to investigate food businesses' experience of food fraud and their views on food fraud vulnerability and prevention. Study 2 focused on food production businesses' organizational culture from an internal food fraud prevention perspective. The first survey was targeted at representatives of Finnish food businesses operating in food production, wholesalers, and central firms (N = 98). While many food business operators (FBOs) had experience of fraudulent practices, they often thought that their businesses were well prepared to prevent food fraud. The businesses used different methods in assessing the reliability of their suppliers, such as buying from familiar businesses and using networks to gain information, but public registers, such as the Tax debt register, were rarely used. The second survey targeting the employees of ten Finnish food production businesses (N = 691) underwent logistic regression analysis. Differences in perceived possibility of internal fraud in the business, organizational integrity, and wrongness of certain fraudulent practices were found based on respondent and business characteristics. Specialists and directors less often fully agreed on the possibility of internal fraud than workers. In addition, specialists, directors and experienced employees reported high organizational integrity more often than workers and less experienced employees. The results highlight that food businesses should take notice of both external and internal food fraud prevention by thoroughly assessing the food fraud risks in their operations and enforcing good organizational culture. • Finnish FBOs were mainly positive towards their ability to prevent food fraud. • Food fraud vulnerability should be assessed in all food businesses. • Employees' characteristics affected their opinions of internal fraud. • Internal food fraud prevention should be enhanced by improving business culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing partnerships among agro-industrial properties and selecting ideal locations for biogas plants are crucial challenges in large-scale biogas production and can influence both operational efficiency and waste management. In this context, this research proposes a new matheuristic that addresses the problems of defining a group of properties and an optimal number of groups and identifies the best allocation to the biogas plant. The group properties were defined by hierarchical and K-means cluster algorithms. The best location for the biogas plant was determined by the proposed multiobjective mathematical model. The best cluster number was decided by two strategies: (1) one that selected the closest non-dominated solutions to the ideal solution (M1) and (2) one that favored the most environmentally friendly solution (M2). The matheuristic was tested using three real databases, which yielded strategic clusters with an average daily biogas production of 544.93 m³/day (M1 and M2) for DataBase 1 , 1635,156.00 m³/day (M1) and 403,497.50 m³/day (M2) for DataBase 2 , and 318,662.50 m³/day (M1) and 20,479.58 m³/day (M2) for DataBase 3. This research provides an opportunity to add value to agro-industrial properties by achieving energy security and developing new business networks. [Display omitted] • A matheuristic approach for clustering and plant location optimization is proposed. • Innovative clustering method for agribusiness sector cooperatives. • Exact method for optimal biogas plant location using a mathematical model. • Efficient resource allocation reduces costs and improves infrastructure use. • Enhanced collaboration and sustainability boost profitability in agribusiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We illustrate the use of a dyadic intervention method within the framework of social network data collection. • We report on challenges of getting access and designing participatory network data collection. • We discuss opportunities of network alteration methods for identifying causality in social network research. • We propose recommendations for gathering data from social network interventions in business settings. This article describes and discusses challenges associated with interventionist network data gathering in organizational settings, with a special focus on dyadic interventions. While pointing out major risks of these approaches, we argue that collecting data in combination with dyadic network alteration methods can enable social network researchers to explore network mechanisms from a new angle and potentially benefit the members of the targeted social networks and the entire collectives, if certain research design and implementation principles are followed. We introduce a facilitated self-disclosure method for strengthening critical dyads in social networks in combination with longitudinal and retrospective network measurement. We assess the participants' perceptions of the different stages of this process by qualitative interviews. The study illustrates that experimental network data collection includes some extra challenges in addition to the many challenges of observational network data collection but participants also reported practical benefits that would not be gained through observational network surveys alone. The results highlight the importance of early and continuous communication during the data collection process with all research participants, not just the management, and the benefits of sharing more of the preliminary results. The lessons learnt through this study can inform the design of experimental network data collection to prioritize the preferences of the participants and their benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Digital business ecosystem in the manufacturing industry studied via systematic literature review. • Digital business ecosystem prerequisites, challenges and benefits in manufacturing presented. • Five future trends uncovered for future studies related to digital business ecosystem in manufacturing. Digitalization has disrupted how organizations collaborate and compete resulting in the development of new collaborative value-creation networks such as the Digital Business Ecosystem (DBE). A literature review shows that DBEs are being studied by various scholars from different perspectives in manufacturing. Digital Business Ecosystem is studied in many contexts in manufacturing, and it is creating both opportunities and challenges for manufacturing. By providing a systematic literature review of the prerequisites, challenges, and benefits of DBEs for manufacturing, this paper helps to alleviate this shortcoming and reveals how digital business ecosystems can dramatically impact the industry. A total of 149 research journal articles were included in this literature review, which uncovered nine prerequisites, eight challenges, and eight benefits for DBEs and led to five trends for future study. Also noted are practical issues that managers who work in manufacturing DBEs should address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We merge firm-level data on ownership linkages with administrative data on German workers to analyze how the position in a business group hierarchy affects workers' wages. To acknowledge that ownership linkages are not one-directional, we propose an index of hierarchical distance to the ultimate owner that accounts for the complex network structure of business groups. After controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, we find a positive effect of larger hierarchical distance to the ultimate owner of a business group on workers' wages. To explain this finding, we develop a monitoring-based theory of business groups. Our model predicts higher wages to prevent shirking by workers if a larger hierarchical distance to the ultimate owner is associated with lower monitoring efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the research priorities of Australian practicing chiropractors and academics across a set of research domains to determine the agreement or disagreement based on these domains. We conducted a pilot-tested online survey focusing on the following 5 principal research domains: basic science, conditions (disorders chiropractors may encounter), patient subgroups, clinical interventions, and practice and public health/health services. Responses were sought regarding support for funding research scholarships, practice-based research networks, scientific conferences/symposia, journals, and existing research agendas. Data were collected (February 19 to May 24, 2019) from a sample of chiropractic academics (n 1 = 33) representing 4 Australian programs and practicing chiropractors (n 2 = 340). Collected data were ranked and analyzed to determine agreement across domains and items. There was agreement between the 2 groups across the majority (>90%) of domain items. The closest agreement and highest rankings were achieved for the "clinical interventions and practice" and "conditions" domains. Disagreement was observed within specific domain items, such as patient subgroups (infants), and for 1 intervention (chiropractic-specific techniques). Disagreement also occurred outside of the main domains, including research agenda support and funding. There was overall agreement between practicing chiropractors and academics across most research area domain items, which should help facilitate consensus-led development of any potential Australian Chiropractic research agenda. Disagreements across specific domain items, such as population subgroups, interventions, and funding require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Educational Scholars Program (ESP) started as a national 3-year faculty development (FD) program for pediatric educators. Fourteen years later, the ESP has grown into a larger community of practice (CoP). The purpose of this study was to identify programmatic processes that serve as bridges or barriers to integrating ESP graduates into the CoP. A cross-sectional survey was sent to 126 ESP graduates. Based on their self-reported level of engagement, graduates were categorized into 4 groups: Core, Active, Peripheral, and Outsider groups. Factors contributing to engagement with the ESP community, and the impact of varying levels of engagement on outcomes related to the organization and the graduate were ascertained. Half of the ESP graduates completed the survey. Thirty-five percent of the respondents were in the Core or Active groups. Almost all ESP graduates in the Core and Active groups felt a sense of belonging to the ESP community. Opportunities provided to network, collaborate, and receive mentorship were reported as highly significant influences on their decision to remain engaged. Purposeful integration of graduates of an FD program within a CoP, by allowing varying levels of involvement, enhances engagement within the CoP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Board of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) partnered with the APPD Global Health Learning Community (GHLC) to establish the APPD Global Pediatric Educator Scholarship. This award seeks to recognize pediatric educators who demonstrate leadership in improving pediatric education in low- and middle-income countries, and provide them with career development opportunities by attending the APPD Spring meeting. Two educators per year have been awarded the scholarship since 2017. The authors sent survey questions via email and obtained responses from 6 (100%) of the scholarship awardees, 8 (75%) APPD GHLC leadership individuals, and 4 (67%) APPD Board members. Three authors analyzed the responses with consensus achieved on themes. Awardees noted learning about educational strategies, academic opportunities through networking, and context for stronger bilateral exchange with partners. APPD leaders noted an expansion of the organization's mission to include global presence. Challenges included program visibility, sustainable funding, and logistics. Suggestions included better incorporation of awardees into APPD membership, longitudinal mentorship, targeted conference navigation, and visits to local academic institutions. The APPD Global Educator Scholarship is a replicable model of organizational global outreach that expands the concept of bidirectional exchange to include career sponsorship for global partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Discusses ethical issues in research social networks in business and management contexts. • Considers ethical challenges at each stage of the research process. • Discusses ethics in commissioning, research design, data collection, analysis and reporting. • Provides big and small data examples from the author's own experience. • Proposes mitigating remedies for the ethical problems identified. Reflecting on the compilation and analysis of a range of network datasets drawn from our own work and some prominent examples, we consider the ethical challenges in dealing with network data in business and management settings. We argue that the managerial processes that characterize such settings introduce particular ethical sensitivities in the stages of commissioning and research design, and when collecting, analyzing and reporting network data. These sensitivities arise from the imperatives of business, motivations for commissioning network analyses and the legal authority that managers have over employees. We argue that ethical considerations are much more pervasive in business and management network research than in many other fields. In this contribution, we present a range of ethical challenges in network research in business and management settings that arise at several stages of the research process. For each issue identified, we describe the ethical problem and propose mitigation remedies. From this reflection, we suggest guidelines for other researchers to consider when designing research projects in this application area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming a cleaner production in course of fighting the ongoing global warming, solar photovoltaic (PV) together with wind and hydro energy, indicate the most important industry segments in the transformation from fossils to renewable energy sources. During the last two decades, the solar PV industry experienced decisive changes of its global business network configurations where Chinese firms comparatively have gained competitive advantages. According to the business network theory, inter-organizational relationships indicate important vehicles for exchanging valuable resources such as advanced technology and privileged market knowledge aiming to gain leading industry positions. Based on a sample of globally leading solar PV manufacturers originated in Canada, China, Germany, South Korea, and the United States of America we conduct a detailed analysis and provide insights into solar PV industry upstream and downstream network dynamics examined for the period 2007–2023. We found that Chinese firms have focused more on upstream industry network relationships compared to their Western counterparts. Thus, we emphasize on the importance of building competitive regional solar PV industry networks instead of relying only on government subsidies which often come along with rather short-term effects. • Inter-organizational relationships along the value chain are of vital importance to gain competitive advantage in the solar photovoltaic industry. • During the last two decades, the solar PV industry experienced decisive changes of its global business network configurations where Chinese firms comparatively have gained competitive advantages. • Chinese inter-organizational business network patterns differ from their competitors originated in the United States of America and Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper takes Beijing as a case to study regional economic resilience. • We systematically explore the effects of COVID-19 on industrial dynamics. • Individual-owned firms located in high-risk regions are more vulnerable. • The epidemic shock leads to cascading effects among the local industrial network. The COVID-19 epidemic has altered the economic geographies of cities. However, the academic focus on urban industries and their structural dynamics is far from enough. In this paper, we integrate literature from economic geography, business studies and network sciences, and design an adaptation framework to theorize urban economic resilience. Taking the COVID-19 outbreak in Xinfadi, Beijing during the summer of 2020 as a case study, we use Logit regressions and DID estimations to identify the impacts of the epidemic on local industrial dynamics. Our results support that the COVID-19 outbreak significantly increases the number of business exits. The negative impacts are concentrated in high-risk regions, pointing to specific industries and individual-owned firms. Furthermore, we use a machine learning method to visualize the dynamics of industry networks in a small-scale urban area, and then simulate the transmission paths of industry-failure. In doing so, we contribute to current economic resilience literature that firm-level adaptation and industrial dynamics complement regional adaptation theory, while the cascading effects in the industry network underpin the micro foundations of resilience formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's big data era, where a significant volume of business data is generated daily, managing conflicting information within business process networks is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency. This paper addresses this challenge by proposing an efficiency model for business process networks tailored to handle conflict information, drawing on queuing theory and evidence theory. Firstly, we introduce a novel approach for measuring conflict information based on evidence theory and Pignistic probability transformation theory. Next, we tailor efficiency models for the four fundamental structures found in business process networks: sequential, selective, parallel, and loop structures, using queuing theory to manage conflict information effectively in each scenario. We further extend this approach by conceptualizing virtual business activities, allowing us to view the entire business process network as a sequential structure of virtual business activities, facilitating efficiency measurement across the network. Utilizing these measurements, we formulate the queuing service of the business process network as a nonlinear programming problem aimed at minimizing time, thus determining the optimal service rate for business process activities. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of our proposed model through an experimental analysis focused on the railway intermodal transportation business process. The experimental results indicate that our model significantly reduces the impact of conflicting information, leading to a measurable improvement in the efficiency of the business process network. Specifically, the model achieves a notable enhancement in the coordination and execution of intermodal transportation activities, thereby streamlining operations and reducing decision-making uncertainties. This structured approach not only addresses the challenge of managing conflicting information within business process networks but also provides a clear framework for understanding and optimizing network efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agri-food systems in rural areas are increasingly dependent on collective and participatory actions to preserve traditional production and local agro-ecosystems. The deployment of digital technologies is expected to play a role in this context, provided that an integrated use of these tools is pursued. The paper analyses the characteristics of an integrated strategy of digitalisation led by a collective organisation, integrating the perspective of the Socio-Cyber-Physical System (SCPS) in the agri-food system. The aim is to reveal how the digitalisation process shapes and impacts on the governance of collective actions in a scenario of ecological transition. This case study examines the production system and Consortium for the protection of PDO Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, using the Institutional Analysis and Development framework. Evidence from official documents, direct observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group are used to identify action situations and their connections. The paper allows us to identify a network of applications of digital tools, adopted in different business areas of a complex organisation such as the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium and its production system. This network of integrated business functions can be seen as the hallmark of the digitalisation strategy elaborated by this Consortium at the intersection with the surrounding social and physical domains, strengthening the embeddedness in the PR production system. However, some obstacles and drawbacks of this strategy also emerged, such as a marginal integration with the ecological transition. This research makes a valuable contribution to the process of identifying the fundamental elements of the digital network that represents the digitalisation strategy of the Parmigiano Reggiano production system. It is important to address any existing limitations and emerging conflicts in order to guarantee effective quality monitoring and traceability of the cheese without any prejudice for the natural resources of the PR production area. This must be done in a way that does not compromise the distinctive production processes that are deeply rooted in local traditions and require specialised, labour-intensive techniques. [Display omitted] • Agri-food systems increasingly rely on digital technologies for their governance in a scenario of ecological transition • The IAD framework allows to explore digitalisation strategy of collective actions in farming systems • We identify a network of action situations in the case of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, representing its digitalisation strategy • The integrated use of digital tools strengthens the embeddedness of stakeholders in the production system • The twin transition of collective actions needs proper governance to enhance distinctive agri-food products [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning (DL) is one of the most promising technological developments emerging in the fourth industrial revolution era for businesses to improve processes, increase efficiency, and reduce errors. Accordingly, hierarchical learning software selection is one of the most critical decision-making problems in integrating neural network applications into business models. However, selecting appropriate reinforcement learning software for integrating deep learning applications into enterprises' business models takes much work for decision-makers. There are several reasons for this: first, practitioners' limited knowledge and experience of DL makes it difficult for decision-makers to adapt this technology into their enterprises' business model and significantly increases complex uncertainties. Secondly, according to the authors' knowledge, no study in the literature addresses deep structured learning solutions with the help of MCDM approaches. Consequently, making inferences concerning criteria that should be considered in an evaluation process is impossible by considering the studies in the relevant literature. Considering these gaps, this study presents a novel decision-making approach developed by the authors. It involves the combination of two new decision-making approaches, MAXC (MAXimum of Criterion) and TODIFFA (the total differential of alternative), which were developed to solve current decision-making problems. When the most important advantages of this model are considered, it associates objective and subjective approaches and eliminates some critical limitations of these methodologies. Besides, it has an easily followable algorithm without the need for advanced mathematical knowledge for practitioners and provides highly stable and reliable results in solving complex decision-making problems. Another novelty of the study is that the criteria are determined with a long-term negotiation process that is part of comprehensive fieldwork with specialists. When the conclusions obtained using this model are briefly reviewed, the C2 "Data Availability and Quality" criterion is the most influential in selecting deep learning software. The C7 "Time Constraints" criterion follows the most influential factor. Remarkably, prior research has overlooked the correlation between the performance of Deep Learning (DL) platforms and the quality and accessibility of data. The findings of this study underscore the necessity for DL platform developers to devise solutions to enable DL platforms to operate effectively, notwithstanding the availability of clean, high-quality, and adequate data. Finally, the robustness check carried out to test the validity of the proposed model confirms the accuracy and robustness of the results obtained by implementing the suggested model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We illustrate the use of a dyadic intervention method within the framework of social network data collection. • We report on challenges of getting access and designing participatory network data collection. • We discuss opportunities of network alteration methods for identifying causality in social network research. • We propose recommendations for gathering data from social network interventions in business settings. This article describes and discusses challenges associated with interventionist network data gathering in organizational settings, with a special focus on dyadic interventions. While pointing out major risks of these approaches, we argue that collecting data in combination with dyadic network alteration methods can enable social network researchers to explore network mechanisms from a new angle and potentially benefit the members of the targeted social networks and the entire collectives, if certain research design and implementation principles are followed. We introduce a facilitated self-disclosure method for strengthening critical dyads in social networks in combination with longitudinal and retrospective network measurement. We assess the participants' perceptions of the different stages of this process by qualitative interviews. The study illustrates that experimental network data collection includes some extra challenges in addition to the many challenges of observational network data collection but participants also reported practical benefits that would not be gained through observational network surveys alone. The results highlight the importance of early and continuous communication during the data collection process with all research participants, not just the management, and the benefits of sharing more of the preliminary results. The lessons learnt through this study can inform the design of experimental network data collection to prioritize the preferences of the participants and their benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• We use social network analysis to describe what it means for a firm to be embedded in a family. • We uncover "hybrid family firms" that look modern like firms that exclude family, but operate socially like a family firm. • We find no differences in performance or network advantage for family, hybrid, and family-excluded firms. • But the look-modern, act-traditional hybrid family firms stand alone in prospering with a CEO embedded in a closed network. What does it mean for a private enterprise in China to be embedded in a family? Our purpose here is twofold: (1) use social network analysis to describe what it means for a firm to be embedded in a family, (2) reveal from the application a new kind of firm, not family, yet akin to family. Armed with data on a large probability sample of private enterprises — a third of which meet ownership and employment criteria of being family businesses — we uncover a category of "hybrid family firms" that look modern in the style of firms that exclude family, but operate socially in ways similar to family firms. Our conclusion from summary statistics on the sample is that there are no differences in average performance level or network advantage for the three categories of businesses: family firms, hybrid family firms, and family-excluded firms. The fact that CEOs of family firms and hybrid family firms more often turn to family as key business contacts is a fact about network composition that raises no question about network mechanisms. Whether the CEO turns to more or fewer family contacts, government help is more likely with stronger political connections, and business success and survival are more likely with a large, open network. That said, the look-modern, act-traditional hybrid family firms stand alone in prospering with a CEO embedded in a closed business network. Recognition of hybrid family firms adds to the literature's illustrations of social network analysis used to distinguish types of businesses and business people, and extends the population of organizations within which governance and strategy are likely to be better understood when viewed through a family logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For academic pediatricians, social media has become an important avenue for professional development through continuing education, professional networking, and academic collaboration. Pediatric residency program directors have recognized additional benefits of social media engagement via program promotion and resident recruitment. The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent move to virtual interviews for the 2020–2021 residency interview season have created a new urgency for pediatric program directors to establish an active social media presence, primarily as a means to engage applicants and provide them with information in lieu of cancelled away rotations and in-person interviews. Twitter is a free microblogging and social networking platform that allows real-time engagement among academic pediatricians. Here, we make the case that all pediatric program directors should have an active presence on Twitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates possibilities to visually support the collaborative design process of Enterprise Knowledge Graphs for Business Application Systems. Starting with a description of the concept of the Social Network of Business Objects (SoNBO), we show how the SoNBO Visualiser supports the visualisation of a company-specific ontology and the resulting knowledge graph. Our previous research showed that existing visualisation tools from the Semantic Web are unsuited for the human involvement that is required in the design of an ontology for a SoNBO. In order to address the lack of a tool, the SoNBO Visualiser was developed using a Design Science Research approach. This paper aims to provide a methodological as well as a technical contribution: The method provides support for the visualisation of the ontology (on two levels) and facilitates the involvement of domain experts (employees) without technical knowledge in the design process. The complementary technical solution connects heterogeneous source systems in a simple configuration process and allows to visualise the ontology and the resulting knowledge graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Academics' international mobility promotes development of professional competence and self-awareness. • Academics' international mobility augments the capacity to create international networks and enhance current and future career prospects. • The knowledge and skills developed during the academic staff exchange period are closely interrelated with generic working life skills. • The Four-Factor model of Cultural Intelligence was a suitable framework to interpret academics' ability to adapt to intercultural situations. This study examines academics' perceptions of their intercultural competence after an international exchange period and the influence of academic international mobility on their professional development. The data was collected via an online survey (N = 59) and in-depth interviews (N = 15) from academic university staff in the field of engineering who had recently participated in an international mobility period. The findings produced a positive picture of academics' international work periods. The data from the self-evaluation indicated that international mobility augments professional proficiency in many ways, including the development of core subject-related competence (e.g., methodological skills) and problem-solving skills, professional self-awareness, as well as the capacity to apply external funding, produce shared publications, and create an international network. Furthermore, in relation to the model of Cultural Intelligence and its four dimensions, Metacognitive, Cognitive, Motivational, and Behavioral, the findings indicated that all the knowledge and skills developed during the exchange period were closely related with the generic working life skills suggested in the competence literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly efficient use of scarce resources is a central theme in the gradual transition towards a circular economy. Hazardous materials represent a category of resources that is often difficult—and potentially risky—to transport, store, or neutralize. As a result, hazardous materials are rarely included in closed material loops. The present paper analyzes HorsePower, a business concept centered around an innovative way of utilizing horse manure. Horse manure is generated in millions of tons in horse-rich countries such as the UK, Germany, and France. It is a hazardous resource, as it may spread diseases, and cannot be disposed of or landfilled economically. The content analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews carried out with different business actors participating in the HorsePower business network reveals that the success of HorsePower stems from its ability to combine the complementary capabilities and material needs of a relatively complex network of business actors including stables, sawmills, logistical service providers, and heat and power plants. Each actor receives added value; the benefits from participation are greater than the sacrifices of participation. Furthermore, the findings show that certain types of hazardous resources, when combined with resources produced by another actor, may be burned efficiently and safely in specific power plants, reducing the need for other types of fuel. The observations imply that novel approaches for effectively sharing ideas and resource needs across organizational boundaries are needed to facilitate the development of additional innovative CE business concepts, leveraging both actor-specific capabilities and intra-actor resource dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A traders 'network is a confederation of skilful people that unite and coordinate a variety of tasks. • Functional properties of traders' networks emerge from situated practices and are difficult to design a-priori. • A traders' network guarantees its own continuity by opening space for personal skills development of its members. • Selection of skilful members is vital for performance and sustenance of a traders 'network. • There is a tension between inclusive organisations and the exclusive nature of networks that are able to persistent in the altering realities of trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of biosecurity measures among farmers is the first line of defense against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on poultry farms. Yet much less is known about the association between HPAI outbreak information sources, farmers' risk perception and their adoption of biosecurity behaviors (BBs). To bridge this gap, a survey (n = 426) was conducted to measure the relationship between these factors among poultry farmers in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. The data reveal that farmers use multiple information sources to obtain information about HPAI outbreaks. Multivariate regression shows that HPAI outbreak information disseminated through business networks is associated with reported adoption of BBs, while farm size and ease of access to a veterinary clinic are associated with both higher risk perception and increased BBs. Moreover, increased BBs are associated with farmers who maintain stable production and sales contractual relationships with poultry product processing and marketing enterprises. The findings of this research will allow authorities to more effectively disseminate HPAI information to poultry farmers through business networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how international migration and business networks affect revenue from intellectual property trade using data on Japan's bilateral trade flows. The analysis is distinct as it integrates past studies on two globalization-related topics: trade and migration relationships, and trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) relationships. Our analysis shows that revenue from intellectual property trade relates positively to the number of immigrants residing in Japan; however, it does not have any relationship with FDI in Japan and Japanese direct investments overseas. Additionally, revenue relates negatively to the number of Japanese emigrants living in less developed countries/areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]