EMPAS 15 (4) 2023

This study aims to compare efforts to digitise SMEs in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly in the Central Java and Kuala Terengganu regions, especially in the cultural context and perceptions of SME owners, in terms of workforce transformation. Data were collected on the creative industry SMEs in Central Java and Kuala Terengganu, with a sample size of 241 at each location. The collected data were then analysed using the ANOVA difference test and the SPSS regression test. This study’s results prove differences in the levels of agile leadership, organisational ambidexterity and workforce transformation in SMEs in Central Java, Indonesia and Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Agile leadership and organisational ambidexterity have also been shown to positively and significantly affect workforce transformation. The results of this study contribute to improving the theoretical understanding of SME workforce transformation in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly the development of academic science in management. In addition, this study also provides information, recommendations, and references to SME entrepreneurs related to strategic planning to optimise performance in maintaining the sustainability of their businesses. This study also provides a practical contribution as a reference for improving the performance of SMEs in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Keywords:
workforce transformation  agile leadership  organisational ambidexterity 

This article aims to investigate the impact of allowable human energy expenditure (HEE) of order pickers on the throughput of workers in manual order zone picking systems MOP. The method used in this research is the Monte Carlo simulation, used while considering many human and job factors. The results showed that a worker’s gender and an item’s weight have little effect on the HEE. On the other hand, body weight, walking speed, distance travelled, and the targeted zone significantly impacted the HEE, rest allowance, and throughput. For example, male pickers at a weight of 75 kg can move up to speed to 1 m/s and pick up items weighing up to 5 kg without reaching the allowable HEE rate, equal to 4.3 kcal/min, and, thus, no rest is needed. Female pickers at a weight of 75 kg reach the allowable HEE rate, equal to 2.6 kcal/min, at a very low speed of approximately 0.1 m/s when picking up items up to 5 kg, and, thus, frequent rest is needed, which leads to low throughput. To increase the throughput of female pickers, they can be assigned to pick up lighter items. Utilising Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the HEE in MOP while considering many factors.

Keywords:
human energy expenditure  manual order picking  Monte Carlo simulation  warehouse management 

The text covers the projection of the potential impact of the currently observed processes in the world economy on the international supply chains’ geography. The economic effects of the pandemic, the modern trade war and Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine are considered key factors in changing this geography. When examining the importance of these factors, the matrix of three components of global supply chains is adopted: production centres, transport corridors and consumption centres. The reasoning allowed for rejecting both the scenario of maintaining the so-called hyper-globalisation and forming a bilateral system of two isolated and hostile economic systems. The presented arguments lead to the expectation of a mixed solution in the form of the simultaneous existence of a system of high globalisation and concentrated regional systems. The primary objective of this study is to identify and assess emerging trends in the configuration of international supply chains. On this basis, it is also intended to identify the most likely scenario for the future formation of the geography of international supply chains. The research used the literature study methodology and deductive inference of the consequences of the identified processes taken as premises for reasoning. The above-presented arguments lead to the assumption that the so-called hyper-globalisation is probably unsustainable. Various economic, political, technological and social factors make it impossible to sustain, let alone further develop, the current logic of shaping the global economic system. A world economy system with a hybrid structure is expected to emerge. The model of full globalisation will coexist with the model of a multilateral structure with a regional character centred around the main consumption and production centres. The factors determining the evolution of economic globalisation have been systematised. Their potential impact is described, and a likely scenario for change is presented. The achieved results can contribute to the design of economic policy at the level of individual countries and their groupings.

Keywords:
international supply chains  supply chains geography  globalization 

The processes of globalisation, the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, the continuing war in Ukraine, and constantly emerging new technological solutions require organisations to adapt to changes constantly. Meanwhile, implemented business process management (BPM) often fails to integrate processes and knowledge resources. The awareness of the IT systems’ role in management processes is still lacking. These premises influenced the implementation of the main research goal to identify the approach of Polish private and public enterprises and various industries to the BPM integration with knowledge management (MK) in the context of using new information technologies. The presented research results justify the usefulness of building relationships between the process and knowledge resources under dynamically changing conditions using IT systems. The diagnostic survey results confirmed the key importance of developing such BPM and MK elements as evidencebased decisions, strategic goals, measurement systems, databases, digital innovations, and IT use for data processing. The presented material can support managers of various organisation types in decision-making processes by fully understanding the IT systems’ role and potential in process and knowledge management. Also, the article’s implications are a source of guidelines, helping organisations to implement management systems based on modern technologies. The value of the publication is a wide range of respondents: 107 large, medium, small, and micro-enterprises operating in Poland. The article’s research results also concern economic activities such as production, logistics, transport, banking, insurance, IT, telecommunications/ media, public administration, healthcare/pharmaceuticals, consulting, energy, and construction.

Keywords:
business process management  knowledge management  knowledge resources  digital innovations  information technologies 

The influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart cities has resulted in enhanced efficiency, accessibility, and improved quality of life. However, this integration has brought forth new challenges, particularly concerning data security and privacy due to the widespread use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The article aims to provide a classification of scientific research relating to artificial intelligence in smart city issues and to identify emerging directions of future research. A systematic literature review based on bibliometric analysis of Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted for the study. Research query included TITLE-ABS-KEY (“smart city” AND “artificial intelligence”) in the case of Scopus and TS = (“smart city” AND “artificial intelligence”) in the case of the Web of Sciences database. For the purpose of the analysis, 3101 publication records were qualified. Based on bibliometric analysis, seven research areas were identified: safety, living, energy, mobility, health, pollution, and industry. Urban mobility has seen significant innovations through AI applications, such as autonomous vehicles (AVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), yet security concerns persist, necessitating further research in this area. AI’s impact extends to energy management and sustainability practices, demanding standardised regulations to guide future research in renewable energy adoption and developing integrated local energy systems. Additionally, AI’s applications in health, environmental management, and the industrial sector require further investigation to address data handling, privacy, security, and societal implications, ensuring responsible and sustainable digitisation in smart cities.

Keywords:
smart city  artificial intelligence  energy  safety  living  pollution  mobility  transport  industry  health  Internet of Things  big data  blockchain  machine learning  European Green Deal  bibliometric analysis 

The paper aims to identify how digital transformation and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), in particular, affect the manufacturing processes. Several dimensions of the Industry 4.0 field have been considered, such as the design of new products, workforce and skill optimisation, enhancing quality control, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and marketing strategy. The paper adopts qualitative research based on a critical review approach. It provides evidence of the GAI technology support in the mentioned areas. Appropriate use of emerging technology allows managers to transform manufacturing by optimising processes, improving product design, enhancing quality control, and contributing to overall efficiency and innovation in the industry. Simultaneously, GAI technologies facilitate predictive analytics to forecast and anticipate future demand, quality issues, and potential risks, improve a marketing strategy and identify market trends.

Keywords:
Generative AI  ChatGPT  Industry 4.0  technology  manufacturing processes 

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration offer great potential for the future of corporate automation and increased productivity. RPA rapidly evolves into Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) by incorporating advanced technologies and capabilities beyond simple task automation. The paper aims to identify the organisational, technological, and human-centred challenges that companies face in transitioning from RPA to IPA. The research process involved conducting the scientific literature search using the ResearchRabbit AI tool, which provided a set of reference papers relevant to the formulated research questions. As a result of the conducted literature review, the authors identified key challenges and possible countermeasures for companies transitioning from RPA to IPA. The resulting collection of reference scientific articles formed the basis for this study’s content and substantive analysis. Furthermore, this study contributes by identifying artificial intelligence techniques and algorithms, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), predictive analytics, and others, that can be integrated with RPA to facilitate the transition to IPA. The paper also offers insights into potential future research areas.

Keywords:
Robotic Process Automation  RPA  Intelligent Process Automation  IPA  AI  Intelligent Automation  challenges 

Risk, as an effect of uncertainty, is associated with every human activity. Like any other industry, construction companies are eager to reduce the uncertainty of reluctant events. A well-planned risk communication system could contribute to the success of a construction project. A proper announcement protocol could be a mitigating lever for identified or unidentified risks during planning and monitoring processes. This research aims to present a risk communication management system (RCMS) for construction companies involved in large projects. The proposed model includes a step-by-step communication procedure considering the authority level within the organisational hierarchical structure. The model aims to remove the ambiguity of risk communications during the construction process under uncertain conditions. It leaves no or little room for the emergence of unplanned risks. The proposed communication structure has been implemented in GRC cladding construction projects, and the risk communication time and response have been significantly improved.

Keywords:
risk  uncertainty  risk management  communication  project  risk response plan  construction  model 

The “Construction 2025” is a United Kingdom (UK) Government Strategy introduced in 2013 to improve the construction industry in the United Kingdom by meeting outlined performance targets by 2025. However, with only a few years left to reach the targets, it is unclear how much industry is advancing to meet them. This paper reviews the progress to achieve the Strategy targets. The data collected from 96 UK construction professionals was utilised to assess the key barriers to achieving the UK “Construction 2025” Strategy targets. Results indicate that industry professionals are uncertain about reaching the reduction in overall cost and time targets by 2025. However, they are more positive about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the trade gap. In terms of the key barriers, the results revealed a reluctance to adopt change, lack of implementation of new technology, fragmentation in the industry, and failure to adopt modern construction methods as the key barriers to the Strategy targets. The research is the first attempt at a comprehensive assessment of the progress and barriers to the UK “Construction 2025” Strategy. The results reinforce the call for government initiatives to transform the industry.

Keywords:
United Kingdom  construction industry  Construction 2025  strategy  barriers 

This article provides a systematic review of innovations in smart fruit-growing. The research aims to highlight the technological gap and define the optimal studies in the near future moving toward smart fruit-growing based on a systematic review of literature for the period 2021–2022. The research object is the technological gap until the smart fruit-growing. The research question of the systematic review was related to understanding the current application of vehicles, IoT, satellites, artificial intelligence, and digital twins, as well as active studies in these directions. The authors used the PRISMA 2020 approach to select and synthesise the relevant literature. The Scopus database was applied as an information source for the systematic review, completed from 10 May to 14 August 2022. Forty-three scientific articles were included in the study. As a result, the technology gap analysis was completed to highlight the current studies and the research trends in the near future moving toward smart fruit-growing. The proposed material will be useful background information for leaders and researchers working in smart agriculture and horticulture to make their strategic decisions considering future challenges and to optimise orchard management or study directions. Considering the current challenges, authors advise paying attention to decision-making, expert, and recommendation systems through the digital twin paradigm. This study will help the scientific community plan future studies optimising research to accelerate the transfer to new smart fruit-growing technologies as it is not sufficient to develop an innovation, but it must be done at the appropriate time.

Keywords:
artificial intelligence  digital twin  smart horticulture  orchard  remote sensing