IT, increasingly recognized as a vital contributor to competitive advantage, plays an indispensable role in augmenting business value. Effective implementation of IT Governance (ITG) mechanisms, comprising structures of responsibility, control processes, communication protocols, and decision rights, has been found to foster alignment between IT and business objectives. Such alignment is particularly critical for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), where the amplified business value can be realized. Yet, SMEs often grapple with challenges in implementing ITG, owing to resource constraints, communication hurdles, resistance to change, and technological complexity. The present study delves into this complex dynamic within a medium-sized industry located in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, investigating the deployment of ITG mechanisms as a means to enhance business value through IT. An interpretivist approach characterizes the qualitative, inductive study, drawing on a case study to probe the links between ITG mechanisms, IT capabilities, and business value. Four hypotheses are put forth in the discourse, shedding light on the intricate relationships that these elements share. The findings indicate that ITG mechanisms exert a positive impact on IT business value, albeit with identifiable weaknesses and potential areas for enhancement. More effective alignment between IT and business can be achieved by addressing these shortcomings, thereby mitigating risks such as demotivation among IT professionals and resistance to change.
Investigation into the nexus between financial crises and the current account deficit within Iran’s economy was conducted, utilising time-series data spanning from 1989 to 2022. Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test validations endorsed stationarity of all variables upon first differencing. Through the deployment of Johansen's cointegration methodology, a long-term positive impact of real exchange rate oscillations on the trade deficit was discerned. Furthermore, the implementation of an error correction model (ECM) furnished additional perspectives regarding the dynamic interplay amongst the variables under consideration. The findings elucidate the repercussions of financial crises on Iran’s current account deficit, revealing a palpable influence of exchange rate volatilities on economic stability and providing insights into the nuanced macroeconomic relationships amidst periods of fiscal turmoil. The research underscores the exigency for robust fiscal and monetary strategies to navigate the intricacies of economic vulnerabilities and fortify against ensuing financial perturbations.
Ordering of quotients is a critical aspect of cost-efficiency problems, which hold significant interest and importance for suppliers of goods and services as well as consumers. Comparisons (ordering) are straightforward when dealing with ordinary numbers, yet in many instances, the data are imprecise, vague, or subject to seasonal variations. Consequently, such data may be unknown or derive from expert opinions. Unlike ordinary numbers, fuzzy data render quotients only partially ordered. This study examines the linear ordering of quotients with fuzzy data, expressed in terms of confidence intervals, $\alpha$-cuts, or piecewise quadratic fuzzy numbers (PQFNs), within the context of cost-efficiency problems. Moreover, the challenges associated with quotient ordering in cost-efficiency problems are introduced.
In the rapidly evolving industrial landscape, the decision-making process concerning which products to manufacture, their quantity, and the methods of their production has become pivotal. This study endeavors to address this need by advocating the most apt functional form of the production process for predominant manufacturing sectors. The central objective has been the maximization of output through the application of the Cobb-Douglas production function, investigated separately for both two-input and three-input scenarios. It is ascertained which of the two models exhibits greater efficacy. Subsequently, parameters of the production function are estimated utilizing advanced optimization subroutines.
In the quest to reduce occupational accidents and diseases, the ergonomic performance levels of industries remain pivotal. Within this context, the metal industry in Türkiye, notorious for ergonomic challenges, was scrutinised regarding its occupational health and safety (OHS) indicators. Five pivotal criteria were employed to delineate the industry's performance: the incidence of occupational accidents, the occurrence of fatal occupational accidents, the reporting rate of occupational diseases, the cumulative days of temporary incapacity, and the overall count of insured individuals obtaining permanent incapacity benefits. A decadal period, spanning 2013-2022, served as the temporal backdrop for this examination. Utilising the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method, an esteemed Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) technique, an assessment was conducted to ascertain the years marred by sub-optimal ergonomic performance. Notably, 2014, 2013, and 2020 were identified as the least problematic years, whereas 2022 emerged as the most critical year. This investigation underscores the imperative for strategic planning to augment ergonomic conditions in professional settings in light of OHS, particularly in recent times.
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