Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has looked at the relationship between digitalisation and labour productivity in the European Union. The study found that the growing digital divide between some countries means that the impact of technological transformation on productivity is far from uniform.

Giuseppe Cinquegrana of the Italian National Institute of Statistics in Rome, and Giovanni De Luca, Paolo Mazzocchi, Claudio Quintano, and Antonella Rocca of the University of Naples Parthenope, Italy, looked at 23 EU member states over a five-year period and found that digital advancements, such as internet connectivity, digital skills, and the adoption of new technologies, can have different effects around the EU.

Broadly speaking, digitalisation has a positive effect on productivity. However, this study shows that the benefits are most pronounced in countries that already have high levels of digitalisation, such as those in Northern Europe. Nations like Sweden and Denmark, with good digital infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, experience the biggest productivity gains as digitalisation spreads. The relationship can be measured using the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index, which tracks the progress of digital transformation, and gross domestic product per worker, a standard measure of productivity.

However, the study also reveals a more nuanced picture than is obtained from that data. It suggests that the impact of digitalisation on productivity is not immediate or even implicit. The team found that countries with better education systems and more extensive technological adoption are more likely to see digitalisation pay off in terms of higher productivity.

The findings reveal a stark north-south digital divide within the EU. Southern and Eastern European countries, in particular, lag behind their Northern counterparts in both digitalisation and productivity levels. This gap is further exacerbated by factors like lower investment in research and development and the presence of smaller, less innovative businesses. In these regions, the lack of resources to train workers in digital skills and the relatively low rate of technology adoption in businesses continue to hinder productivity growth. In highlighting this divide, the work offers the opportunity for policymakers to endeavour to close this digital divide.

Cinquegrana, G., De Luca, G., Mazzocchi, P., Quintano, C. and Rocca, A. (2024) 'Impact of digitalisation on labour productivity in the EU', Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp.1–39.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2024.142806

A novel framework for designing smarter, more sustainable products is discussed in the International Journal of Product Development. The framework could help car manufacturers and others navigate the increasing demand for digital services. Zhang Yan, Tobias Larsson, and Andreas Larsson of the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, explain that the Future Innovation Framework could change the way companies develop Product-Service Systems.

Product-Service Systems combine physical products with digital services in a collaborative process for their customers. With traditional product development models struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, the Future Innovation Framework gives manufacturers a structured approach to integrating digital solutions into their products as well as ensuring that they are meeting their sustainability goals.

At the heart of the Future Innovation Framework is the idea of value co-creation. In this, businesses and consumers work together to design products that provide mutual benefits. This is made possible by advances in information and communication technologies such as digital twins. Digital twins allow for real-time data sharing and the creation of virtual facsimiles of prototypes that can then be assessed so that smarter decisions can be made. By facilitating collaboration among the various people involved on both sides of the business, equation, the Future Innovation Framework can help companies create products and services that are more responsive to changing consumer needs as well as being more aligned with long-term sustainability.

The team reports on how car manufacture, Volkswagen, has already used the Future Innovation Framework in the design of its smart electric vehicle. The company's work illustrates the practical benefits of this framework. The team explains that by getting diverse teams involved early in the design process, the manufacturer was able to address those technological challenges and sustainability concerns. The case study highlights the potential of the Future Innovation Framework to streamline the design process, improve innovation, and reduce the environmental impact of a product. It also has a role to play in the promotion of the circular economy, which can reduce waste and improve the lifespan of a given product, by shifting the focus from short-term sales to more sustainable practices.

Yan, Z., Larsson, T. and Larsson, A. (2024) 'Future innovation framework (FIF) for value co-creation of smart product-service system design in a global automotive manufacturing company', Int. J. Product Development, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.1–29.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2024.142760

A study in the International Journal of Vehicle Safety has looked at driver behaviour during turning manoeuvres at road junctions (intersections). The work raises concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly when several vehicles are involved in making the same turn.

Shoko Oikawa, Yuta Kusakari, and Naoyuki Kubota of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, and Yasuhiro Matsui of the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan, used a driving simulator to replicate five different traffic scenarios. They hoped to better understand how various factors, such as the presence of pedestrians and other vehicles, influence how drivers approach and navigate junctions.

The team saw a rather troubling issue: when three vehicles were turning ahead of a driver, the speed at which the driver entered and moved through the junction increased. This scenario also led to a decrease in the amount of time drivers spent looking for pedestrians, which in turn points to a higher risk of them hitting someone crossing the road on foot. Moreover, the driver's attention was focused mainly on the movements of other vehicles, with scant attention paid to the presence of pedestrians. Thus, in turning, many drivers seem to assume dangerously that the road is clear when it is patently not.

In some countries, laws are in place to help protect pedestrians crossing at junctions. Some of those tell drivers that they must give way to someone about to cross before they make their own turn. However, the behaviour revealed in the study suggests that if drivers are not even aware of the presence of pedestrians at a junction, then no amount of law-making without enforcement will reduce the risk to pedestrians in this situation.

The team points out that Japan has major traffic safety issues, with pedestrian fatalities a major concern. In 2023, pedestrian deaths accounted for well over a third of all traffic-related fatalities, many of those occurred at junctions. The findings mesh with previous studies, that also found that the presence of other vehicles on the road can divert a driver's attention and increase the risk of pedestrian accidents.

While many modern cars have technology in place that is aware of obstacles and even pedestrians, this will be compromised by the presence of other vehicles as well as by driver inattention. There is this a need for more effective safety measures to be put in place, particularly at busy junctions where cars and pedestrians meet in often unpredictable ways.

Oikawa, S., Kusakari, Y.,Matsui, Y. and Kubota, N. (2024) 'Analysis of driving behaviour for right-turn manoeuvres at intersections with different types of traffic participants',Int. J. Vehicle Safety, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp.1–13.
DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2024.142706

Research in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, is set to challenge the received wisdom on entrepreneurship among marginalized groups, particularly people with disabilities. The work shows how inclusivity and diversity can perhaps unexpectedly drive social and economic change.

Chi Nghia Nguyen of Aomori Chuo Gakuin University, Japan, Matteo Rossi of the University of Sannio in Benevento BN, Italy, Laurent Vilaine of the Catholic University of Lyon, France, and Mohamad Baker Hamieh of the Lebanese International University in Mazraa, Lebanon undertook a comparison of social entrepreneurship. They compared eight case studies of people with disabilities in Vietnam and six cases involving non-disabled entrepreneurs in Japan. Their findings suggest, as one might hope, that disability does not inherently limit entrepreneurial success. Instead, they found that such individuals turn constraints into opportunities for innovation and community empowerment.

Social entrepreneurship, the practice of using business methods to address societal challenges while generating income, takes on a transformative role in disadvantaged settings, the researchers suggest. They found that in Vietnam, disabled entrepreneurs have developed ways to boost their skills, their technical expertise or social networks, while collaborating with others to overcome inherent limitations derived from their disability. The team explains that this adaptive approach not only creates sustainable livelihoods for themselves but also generates broader opportunities within their communities.

Such efforts are in stark contrast to traditional poverty alleviation models, which often cast marginalized individuals simply as passive recipients of aid. The research sees how disability can be reframed within the context of human capital—a term that encompasses the knowledge, skills, and other attributes individuals can bring to bear in their work. So, instead of viewing disabilities as insurmountable barriers, those disabilities are just one aspect of a person's capabilities and character, which can be complemented or compensated for by other strengths as needed. This shift in perspective moves the narrative away from what individuals cannot do to what they can and opens new pathways for innovation and inclusion.

Nguyen, C.N., Rossi, M., Vilaine, L. and Hamieh, M.B. (2024) 'Creating opportunities: social entrepreneurship and disability employment', Int. J. Business and Emerging Markets, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.1–18.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2024.142635

A study in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution, has looked at a fast, efficient method of assessing environmental pollution across nature reserves and so could offer a clearer view of the impact of tourism on such putatively fragile ecosystems. Qiong Da, Fang Zhou, and Nima Ciren of the Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University in Nyingchi, China, used factor analysis, a statistical technique to simplify complex data, to assess the various forms of pollution that might be present on a nature reserve including water and soil contamination, and air pollution. Their approach can highlight core environmental risks in less than half an hour.

Nature reserves draw millions of visitors annually, benefiting local economies, but tourist activity can put a strain on the environment. The researchers point out that current pollution assessment approaches can take days if not weeks and are data-heavy. Ultimately, these leave reserve management and policymakers in a quandary as to how to respond effectively to environmental issues as they arise.

The new approach uses an environmental pollution framework tailored for tourist destinations within reserves, making it possible to condense diverse indicators into the common factors that represent the most important pollution threats. The team suggests that their approach offers a more focused and so manageable dataset that might allow conservationists to act on immediate risks essentially in real-time.

The approach is adaptable and could be useful to the broader conservation effort. The framework offered by the researchers could be used in ecological assessment across other areas, not just tourist traps within nature reserves. It might thus allow timely and useful insights to be gleaned from other kinds of conservation areas that are also facing pressures from human activities. The approach could thus support resilience and long-term sustainability of conservation areas beyond the tourist hotspots.

Da, Q., Zhou, F. and Ciren, N. (2024) 'An environmental pollution assessment method for tourist attractions in nature reserves based on factor analysis', Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. 74, Nos. 1/2/3/4, pp.1–15.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2024.142543

The future of MOFs, metal-organic framework materials, looks bright. A review in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how a specific class of these sponge-like materials might find increasing use in removing dye contaminants from industrial wastewater.

Irvan Dahlan and Hamidi Abdul Aziz of the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, and Yung-Tse Hung of Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, have focused on MOF-5 materials. These substances, constructed from a metal such as zinc to which organic molecules are bonds to build vast crystalline structures are highly porous and so have a large internal surface area compared to their overall volume, which means they can soak up, or adsorb (sic) small molecules, such as organic dye pollutants present in industrial wastewater.

The textile, pharmaceutical, and paper industries all generate vast quantities of wastewater contaminated with synthetic dyes. This represents an enormous burden on the environment and a serious risk to ecosystems where this contaminated wastewater might end up.

Organic dyes can be stubborn pollutants, as they are often chemically stable and difficult to break down. They can resist traditional wastewater treatments. Once present in natural waters, they block sunlight and so hamper photosynthesis in aquatic plants, and can thus disturb entire ecosystems. Moreover, some dyes are toxic, carcinogenic, or have mutagenic properties, and so represent a risk to marine life as well as throwing up health concerns for communities dependent on the water sources that are contaminated.

Conventional dye-removal methods, such as chemical treatment, filtration, and biological processes, are often too costly and complex to be commercially viable and commonly inefficient at handling large volumes of wastewater regardless of cost. MOFs, on the other hand, have emerged as a promising alternative due to their unique structures. Importantly, simple changes to the organic molecules from which they are constructed, and the metals used to lock these molecules together into a three-dimensional structure can be made relatively easily so that they can be given different pore sizes and adsorption characteristics.

The team's review shows that much work remains to be done with MOF-5 materials so that they bugger pore sizes can be developed for the larger dye molecules. There is also a need to improve the durability and reusability of these materials to make them suitable for industrial remediation use. Optimisation of their physical and chemical characteristics is now possible, but there is also a need to find ways to scale up their manufacture economically.

Dahlan, I., Aziz, H.A. and Hung, Y-T. (2024) 'Recent development of metal-organic framework 5 adsorbents for organic dye removal from aqueous solution', Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp.378–389.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.142506

One of the biggest buzzwords of recent years is metaverse. The term encompasses the notion of a virtual world that blends reality with digital environments. We have seen steps towards this destination over the last couple of decades with the development of virtual online spaces and their convergence with virtual reality hardware. A detailed review in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research, has now looked at how the development of a functional metaverse might change education and take us beyond the confines of the traditional classrooms.

Shorouq F. Eletter, Ghaleb A. Elrefae, Amer Qasim, and Tahira Yasmin of Al Ain University, United Arab Emirates suggest that the metaverse holds the promise of immersive, interactive, and customized learning experiences. They explain that the metaverse in the context of education would likely combine virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) so allowing students to engage in a dynamic learning experience that could essentially be set anywhere in time and space. For example, historical sites, geological locations, science laboratories, even with the world of mathematical visualisation.

Unlike conventional e-learning platforms, which are commonly based on video clips, graphics, and text-based resources, the metaverse offers a digital space where learners can engage with the content, instructors, and peers in real time, often as so-called avatars or characters immersed in this meta world. These digital classrooms offer more than just a place for lecture-based learning. They foster collaboration, engagement, and creativity, and could allow countless new possibilities for students around the world.

The team mined the Scopus database of academic publications and found that there has been a significant increase in the number of studies exploring the intersection of the metaverse and education. The researchers have identified various themes such as student engagement, global collaboration, and personalized learning as the main drivers of this growing interest. Their findings suggest that the development of the metaverse in education has the potential to break down barriers related to time, space, and socio-economic background for students and educators alike.

Eletter, S.F., Elrefae, G.A., Qasim, A. and Yasmin, T. (2024) 'Education in the Metaverse: a bibliometric exploration', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp.42–55.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.142498

China is perhaps in pole position when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, accounting for over 60% of worldwide sales in 2022. This dominant position makes it a critical player in addressing one of the most pressing sustainability challenges of the electric vehicle revolution: how to recycle batteries. As the world increasingly turns to EVs to combat climate change, the question of what happens to EV batteries once they reach the end of their life has never been more urgent.

Writing in the International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, Igor Laine of LUT University in Lappeenranta, Finland, explains how the big issue is the lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power most of today's EVs. These batteries contain valuable metals, including cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which are finite resources and environmentally harmful if not disposed of correctly. As demand for EVs grows, so too does the pressure on these raw materials, making effective recycling both a necessity and a challenge.

According to Laine, China has become the world's largest manufacturer and consumer of EVs and is responding to the growing challenge of waste batteries with a strong recycling strategy. The country has implemented a variety of regulations aimed at holding manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products. In addition to legal measures, China has invested heavily in the development of new technologies designed to improve the efficiency of battery recycling. Techniques for diagnosing battery health, dismantling old batteries, and extracting precious metals for re-use have been developed in recent years. China's EV future could well become sustainable in terms of batteries.

However, Laine points out that China's recycling infrastructure is not entirely mature. Recycling processes themselves could be improved in terms of efficiency. One of the major problems is that the precious metals that are at the heart of EV batteries are present with myriad other substances, all of which make extracting those metals difficult.

Extraction of the metals is the fine detail problem of battery recycling. The bigger picture sees the vast EV market in China where concerns about efficiency of battery recycling are overarched by the sheer scale of the problem, the enormous numbers involved. There is something a paradox at play with these two perspectives. On one hand, demand for EVs is growing, which means there is a constant flow of waste batteries to be harvested for the next generation of vehicles. But, the size of the market puts the potential for scalable sustainability out of reach, at least for the time being.

Laine's work suggests that the regulatory approach to EV battery recycling taken by China represents a drive in the right direction. However, to address the big problems might require an international stance, a global collective effort. International cooperation could help with research and development into recycling technology and allow standardized recycling practices to be established. The path to truly sustainable battery recycling needs innovation, regulation, and collaboration.

Laine, I. (2024) 'The evolving frontiers of sustainability and innovation: analysing China's approach to electric vehicle battery recycling', Int. J. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.342–357.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2024.142384

A study in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research, looks at the part digital transformation has played in improving efficiency in financial systems across Jordan's public shareholding industrial companies. Information and communications technology has changed industries around the world and continues to do so.

This research, from Khalid Alomari, Ali Salah, and Rukana Alshweesh of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, in Ma'an, Jordan, focuses on the impact of changing technology on Jordan's industrial sector. They point out that businesses are readily adopting digital tools to streamline their operations and improve how they make decisions.

The term "digital transformation" is rather broad and encompasses changes in many different areas: business models, operations, and customer interactions, as well as financial systems. Technology is important for providing accurate and timely financial data to guide day-to-day operations as well as long-term strategy. Of course, data volumes are enormous given all the technology that can soak up information. It is increasingly obvious that traditional methods of handling financial information are no longer sufficient.

The research touches on various elements of digital transformation, including customer engagement and innovation in business models and ultimately the effect on financial performance. Companies that embrace new business models incorporating digital tools and platforms can improve their internal operations and position themselves to better meet the needs of their customers. Adapting to rapidly changing digital trends is now a business necessity if organisations are to gain and sustain their competitive advantage.

Companies across Jordan are modernising in terms of fintech and this will eventually have a wider impact on the Jordanian economy itself, the research suggests. It will boost national competitiveness, create new growth opportunities, and perhaps even lead to sustainable economic development.

Alomari, K., Salah, A. and Alshweesh, R. (2024) 'The impact of digital transformation on the effectiveness of electronic financial systems', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp.21–41.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.142497

Research in the International Journal of Services and Operations Management has shown that the success of lean management techniques in public healthcare depends not only on the tools used to implement it, but on a fundamental shift in organisational culture. Lean management has proved itself able to reduce waste and improve efficiency across the public and private sectors. This work, by Petra Hurme and Johanna Liljeroos-Cork of Tampere University, Finland, emphasises the need to encourage long-term collaboration and improve staff well-being to make it work well in the healthcare sector.

Lean management is designed to maximise value by eliminating waste, often by streamlining processes, reducing waiting times between steps in a process, and generally improving the allocation of resources. In public healthcare settings, early applications of the lean approach have led to positive outcomes, such as enhanced service delivery, improved staff satisfaction, and even cost savings. However, within this sector, many organisations have not reaped the rewards or gained only temporary or superficial improvements.

The research looked at several healthcare and social service organisations and found that transient and superficial benefits of lean in those settings were often down to a failure to change the organisation's internal culture in order to embraces more fully the principles of lean to allow staff to engage in ongoing improvements. The team suggests that leaders need to prioritise the development of an environment that is supportive of staff where they will experience greater job satisfaction and be happier. When employees are emotionally engaged and feel included in decision-making, they are better able to drive the changes necessary to improve services, it seems.

One of the critical findings of the research is that organisations and management need to redefine how value is measured in this sector. It is not solely about operational efficiency as it might be in a factory where working more efficiently and faster towards greater profit are important. Instead, healthcare value should also be understood in terms of how well the service meets the needs and expectations of patients and service users and how well it treats its staff.

Hurme, P. and Liljeroos-Cork, J. (2024) 'Factors promoting value creation in lean management within public social and healthcare organisation', Int. J. Services and Operations Management, Vol. 49, No. 5, pp.1–21.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2024.142519