Socialising governance

Research in the International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management suggests that governments hoping to maintain or even improve public trust in an increasingly digital society must move away from conventional one-way communication, such as leafleting and the party political broadcast, and adopt more effectively modern forms of engagement, such as social media.

The study finds an important issue that stymies effective modern government: accountability is vital to democracy, but standard communication models do not allow citizens to easily participate. Given the advent of social media over the last two decades, there is an increasing need for governments to adopt this two-way form of communication. In doing so, citizens will be able to respond directly to official messages, ask questions, raise concerns, and in turn expect a timely response from public authorities. Given time, this approach to communication between government and governed might improve public sentiment, especially in turbulent times and in times of political upheaval.

Social media, the researchers suggest, could enhance transparency, making government actions and decisions more open to public scrutiny. This, in turn should reduce corruption, favouritism, and nepotism by exposing public services. This openness would, hopefully, improve the public perception of service quality and boost trust where it is due. Conversely, it should allow the public to more readily call to account unscrupulous politicians and, indeed, anyone in governmental office.

Unfortunately, social media works with social rules that are very different from the traditional public communication rules, as one might expect. There is an expectation of immediacy, responsiveness, and ongoing dialogue. As such, governments would be obliged to familiarise themselves fully with those rules of the online world and to ensure that interactions are monitored in real time and responses are timely and relevant.

Alafwan, B., Siallagan. M. and Putro, U.S. (2026) ‘A FAIR measurement of governments’ social media’, Int. J. Public Sector Performance Management, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp.311-332.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling

The International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Deep learning-driven simulation modelling for mine geological risk assessment integrating multi-source data
• Deep learning and multi-agent simulation for spatiotemporal inventory management in e-commerce

New Open Access article available: "Study on gas-water-sand-hydrate foam flow and discharge in the wellbore during hydrate depressurisation production"

The following International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology article, "Study on gas-water-sand-hydrate foam flow and discharge in the wellbore during hydrate depressurisation production", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems are now available here for free:

• Analysis and evaluation of CFD simulation uncertainty based on aerodynamic drag of the Ahmed car
• Advancing transport safety with faster pre-convoluted neural networks and lightweight multi-scale fusion for driver distraction detection
• Optimisation enabled deep learning model for traffic sign recognition
• Development of a direct yaw moment control strategy for an articulated bus equipped with on-board electric motors
• Implementation of multi input DC-DC converter based fuel minimisation in hybrid vehicle using HBO optimisation method
• Assessment of the dynamic stability of mine-rollers equipped heavy vehicle

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Modelling of professional competence indicator system for architecture students integrating industry and education perspective
• Optimisation analysis of music and dance teaching mode based on intelligent communication technology and constitutional neural network
• Interest-aware and context-adaptive model for personalised travel route recommendation
• Quantification of academic pressure perception based on multimodal knowledge distillation in social media
• Dynamic evolution monitoring of brand sentiment based on causal discovery neural networks

Research pick: Food, sustainable food! - "Utilising the potential of circularity: novel strategies for minimising food loss and waste in the circular economy"

Policy reform and improved demand forecasting could be used to reduce global food loss and waste in a circular economy approach to the sector, according to findings in the International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics. The paper is rather timely given how governments and industry are facing increasing pressure to reduce food waste and feed a growing world population sustainably.

It is estimated that about one-third of the food we produce is never consumed. This not only represents a significant waste of resources and a tragedy for those living with serious hunger, but it also amounts to an environmental catastrophe, as the resources to produce the food have been wasted in their production, and then the waste itself is a major environmental concern that will lead to increased carbon emissions if the waste is simply landfilled or burnt.

There are two main categories in this area: food loss, which occurs before products even reach consumers, damage during harvesting, transport, and processing and spoilage en route, and food waste, which refers to food discarded by food outlets and households. The IJSAMI study looks at how we might adopt a circular economy approach to food production to address these problems. In a circular economy, the conventional take-make-dispose model of production is turned around.

In this approach, the lifecycle of resources is extended, and maximum value is extracted. In addition a circular economy involves the recovery and regeneration of materials. In the food sector, this might involve reusing agricultural byproducts, recycling water, integrating renewable energy, and designing packaging to reduce environmental impact. It might also involve creating reverse flows in supply chains, whereby surplus or waste products are redirected into productive uses rather than simply being discarded.

The research discusses the various factors that might allow a circular economy to be used in various areas of the food sector. It highlights the need for new technological and operational measures to be put into place to improve water recycling in agriculture, the adoption of renewable energy sources, and the development of sustainable packaging materials that extend shelf life while minimising waste.

Agrawal, SK., Singh, S., Shukla, A. and Kandpal, B. (2026) ‘Utilising the potential of circularity: novel strategies for minimising food loss and waste in the circular economy’, Int. J. Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.135–163.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies are now available here for free:

• Enhancing stock market predictions using hybrid machine learning approach with XGBOOST-LSTM and XGBOOST-GRU models
• Evaluating relationship amongst soluble solids content and twist in soft drinks for modelling technical variability and system reengineering
• Impact of emerging technologies on firm sustainable development: a comparison between internet of things and factory of things technologies
• Online shopping and consumption rate: does online buying of electronic products boost consumer purchase intention and sales performance of the electronic products
• Credit risk management: bibliometric analysis

New Open Access article available: "Evaluating financial performance excellence through application of interest rate derivatives: a research study"

The following International Journal of Business Excellence article, "Evaluating financial performance excellence through application of interest rate derivatives: a research study", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Integration and application of data visualisation technology in a data analysis teaching platform
• Generative adversarial network-enhanced spatio-temporal graph convolution for driving fatigue monitoring in athletic training
• Multimodal emotion feature extraction and information fusion methods for video content
• Upgrading path of aging friendly functional layout in residential spaces based on biology and computer software engineering
• A YOLO11-based lightweight traffic sign detection model

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research are now available here for free:

• Inter-relationship of operational factors in hospitals
• An investigation of factors associated with COVID-19 related fear and preventive behaviour among young adults in Bangladesh: a case study
• Exploring the driving forces behind healthcare provider adoption of e-health technology
• The sensory approaches on improving gross motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review

Research pick: Carbon myopia - "Managerial myopia and low-carbon transition development: evidence from listed companies"

The transition to a low-carbon economy is being impeded not only by technology and regulation but also by the mindset of corporate leaders, according to research in the International Journal of Sustainable Development. The study looks at companies in China and finds a degree of managerial myopia, where short-term financial gains are prioritised over efforts to reduce emissions and adopt more sustainable practices. The same lack of foresight is likely to be seen the world over.

Managerial myopia is a decision-making bias whereby executives prioritise immediate gains over long-term value creation. While this bias can improve short-term performance, this study shows that it commonly leads to underinvestment in areas essential for future growth, particularly environmental innovation.

The research focuses on what the team refers to as low-carbon total factor productivity. This is a measure of how efficiently a company uses inputs, such as labour, capital, and energy, while reducing its carbon footprint. In practical terms, it determines whether or not a firm can produce more with fewer resources and less environmental harm. The findings indicate that companies led by short-termism perform consistently worse on this metric.

Several mechanisms explain this relationship. Managers focused on near-term profits tend to cut spending on research and development, which is vital for developing cleaner technologies. They also scale back investment in environmental protection measures, such as pollution controls or energy-efficient systems. The team also notes that this mindset compromises human capital, which includes the skills, knowledge, and experience of employees. Training and development programmes, which support innovation and adaptability, are often reduced or even removed under short-term pressure. Such behaviour ultimately weakens a company’s capacity to transition to low-carbon operations.

Ma, F. and Li, H. (2026) ‘Managerial myopia and low-carbon transition development: evidence from listed companies’, Int. J. Sustainable Development, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 209–219.

New Open Access article available: "Socio-technical transformations in citrus supply chains: a literature review based on bibliometric analysis"

The following International Journal of Integrated Supply Management article, "Socio-technical transformations in citrus supply chains: a literature review based on bibliometric analysis", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing are now available here for free:

• Study on the influence of friction coefficient on the wheel-rail contact and rolling contact fatigue for the low-floor vehicle 
• Contact stiffness modelling and analysis of brake disc with rough geometrical topography and manufacturing deviation 
• Enhanced SLAM based on 2D LiDAR and RGB-D camera fusion for mobile robots navigation 
• Evaluation of the rationality of urban road traffic sign setting in Nanchang city based on real vehicle test

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering

The International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• The role of modular MOOCK design based on empirical learning in printmaking teaching
• Research on integrating naive Bayes and collaborative filtering into an online-course recommendation model for universities

First issue: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Governance and Human Rights (free sample issue available)

 

The International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Governance and Human Rights proposes and fosters discussion on the issues, challenges and governance of artificial intelligence within the context of human rights and the welfare of human beings at large. The journal explores privacy, equality and non-discrimination in relation to artificial intelligence, as well as the protection and strengthening of human rights as a socio-economic and institutional process.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

Research pick: Getting down to business - "Critical success factors in exports: evidence from technical consultants in a Brazilian export support program"

A study in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets has looked at the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and found that there are several factors that determine whether they succeed in international markets. The findings move the attention away from the firms themselves to the consultants who advise them.

The research draws on the experiences of export consultants working within a Brazilian public support programme. Unlike individual firms or policymakers, these consultants observe multiple businesses across industries and over extended periods, which gives them a unique perspective. Their insights can show the patterns in how SMEs approach exporting and where they tend to encounter difficulties.

The work focuses on critical success factors, the essential areas that a business must manage effectively to achieve its objectives. In the area in question, exporting is not treated as a single decision but as a process requiring different capabilities and conditions to work together for success.

Among the most prominent of these factors is accumulated knowledge of international markets. This means knowing what foreign customers like, what the rules are, and how to deal with competition. Such knowledge is built over time and is linked to long-term commitment. Firms that treat exporting as a long-term strategic activity, rather than a short-term opportunity, are more likely to establish a stable presence abroad, the research suggests.

The team also found that having a clear export strategy was also a decisive factor. SMEs with structured planning regarding which markets to target, how products should be positioned, and how resources are allocated were generally more successful than those pursuing sporadic opportunities. In addition, management capability and product quality, as well as external factors, had an effect on success.

Critically, the work showed that no single factor alone guaranteed success. Rather, export performance depends on how well an SME coordinates all of these elements by taking a resource-based view.

Dorneles, C.P., Vieira, G.B.B., Lazzari, F., Salvador, C.K. and Ceballos-Ramírez, S.L. (2026) ‘Critical success factors in exports: evidence from technical consultants in a Brazilian export support program’, Int. J. Business and Emerging Markets, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.1–28.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship are now available here for free:

• Evaluating the functions of client involvement, team dynamics, and communication in software requirements engineering
• Exploring the role of innovation ecosystem actors in shaping new product development and firm innovation performance
• Triple effect of social commerce attributes, support and relationship
• Innovation, risk-taking, and employee commitment: exploring CSR's influence in Tunisian SMEs
• Examining university teachers' attitudes towards the use of gamification in entrepreneurship education

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management are now available here for free:

• Blending enterprise resource planning on supply chain management in the aerospace sector in India and analysis using multi-scale adaptive dilated convolutional LSTM
• Sustainable Development Goals reporting and firm value in Indonesia: moderating role of separate risk management committee
• Artificial intelligence in trucking industry: a triple-win environmental, social and governance approach
• Managing supply chain risks for enhanced logistic performance: insights from the automotive industry in Morocco
• Enhancing software design through dynamic metrics and entropy: a case study in cloud security for healthcare systems

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems

The International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Intelligent progress prediction for power grid engineering projects based on unstructured text data and deep learning
• English teaching content and strategy optimisation based on big data analysis
• A deep learning-based model for noise reduction and audio quality optimisation in music transmission signals
• Collaborative optimisation of multi-agent reinforcement learning in enterprise digital supply chain
• Big data intelligent analysis modelling for predicting tourist behaviour in heritage sites

New Open Access article available: "Critical success factors in exports: evidence from technical consultants in a Brazilian export support program"

The following International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets article, "Critical success factors in exports: evidence from technical consultants in a Brazilian export support program", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Research pick: It’s bitter-sweet, citrusy - "Socio-technical transformations in citrus supply chains: a literature review based on bibliometric analysis"

A review spanning a decade of the scientific literature has looked at the growing food waste crisis in which about a third of the food we produce is wasted. The work, published in the International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, has focused specifically on citrus crops grown across subtropical belts from Spain to Brazil to China and found that the waste is closer to half in this sector. The researchers suggest that we need a fundamental rethink on how food is grown and processed and how we can ensure that it reaches the people who need it.

The team used a systematic, quantitative approach to analyse 871 scientific papers published between 2010 and 2023. Of these, 111 met the criteria for examining sustainability in agricultural supply chains. Food supply chains account for about 70 per cent of all freshwater used by humans and use nearly a third of the world’s energy and are the second biggest source of carbon emissions.

Citrus was chosen as the case focus because fruit in this sector is the most widely produced and represents vast environmental costs at every stage. Citrus fruits are highly perishable, which makes them particularly vulnerable to waste. The researchers point out, however, that citrus represents an opportunity in the form of the “pomace” waste generated when the fruit is juiced. This is the peel and pulp that remain after extraction and represents half the weight of the fruit.

The researchers suggest that pomace may have economic and environmental value. Until now it has been treated as waste or, at best, low-grade animal feed. But it might be converted through anaerobic digestion into biogas, for instance. It can also be composted or processed into a soil improver. It also has the potential to become the raw material for bioplastics. A more surprising application might be in its use as a bio-adsorbent in wastewater treatment to remove pollutants from water.

Supply chain management theory has not kept pace with this kind of circular development in the food industry as it has historically focused only on the flow of goods, information, and capital, rather than considering the biological nature of the materials in the supply chain. The researchers suggest that this needs to change if environmental and sustainability problems are to be addressed.

Alzubi, E., Kassem, A., Melkonyan-Gottschalk, A., Gruchmann, T. and Noche, B. (2026) ‘Socio-technical transformations in citrus supply chains: a literature review based on bibliometric analysis’, Int. J. Integrated Supply Management, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.1–45.

Research pick: Work till your mental bound - "Technophobia and ICT device adaptability in financial services workers"

Information and communication technology (ICT) has reshaped our lives, how we live, how we work, how we entertain ourselves. That much is true, at least for the developed and developing world.

ICT refers to everything from smartphones and laptops to software and cloud-based platforms and increasingly to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices in the workplace our homes and places of entertainment and recreation. ICT has enabled constant connectivity and more flexible working arrangements, fundamentally altering the structure of the modern workplace.

But that connectivity may have come at a cost. One of the problems with the ubiquitous nature of ICT in our lives is that many people now have no boundary between their professional obligations and their personal lives. ICT has put many people in 24/7 contact with their work colleagues and their boss and conversely, they are always able to connect and access work-related information wherever and whenever. Research in the International Journal of Electronic Finance has now examined the social and psychological consequences of digital work environments.

The study highlights a tension that has become familiar across many sectors. On one side, digital tools have improved efficiency and expanded flexibility. Remote working arrangements, such as telecommuting and telework, allow people to integrate professional tasks into periods that were previously unproductive. Time spent commuting or waiting in public spaces can now be repurposed for work, offering workers greater autonomy over their schedules.

Yet this same flexibility introduces new pressures. The expectation that employees remain reachable anytime, anywhere has led to the rise of so-called techno-stress. Techno-stress encompasses several experiences, such as diminished control over one’s personal time, anxiety about keeping pace with technological change, and frustration when systems fail.

It is this latter issue that is highlighted in the study. Systems failure is a particularly acute trigger of techno-stress. When the very tools on which people now rely for so much malfunction, the inability to resolve the issue independently create a sense of helplessness that can affect both emotional well-being and job performance. In such cases, technology becomes less an enabler of productivity and more a source of disruption.

While digital technologies are usually adopted with the expectation of improved productivity, this research suggests that they introduce hidden costs, particularly in the form of mental health challenges. These effects can accumulate at a societal level, influencing healthcare demands, workforce sustainability, and overall economic performance.

For employers and policymakers, there is, therefore, a need for a broader understanding of technical well-being. Measures to improve system reliability, provide training, and set clearer work-life boundaries are now needed across sectors.

Dhas, H.M., Ancy, R.J., Sreejith, S. and Rani, R.K. (2026) ‘Technophobia and ICT device adaptability in financial services workers’, Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.170–188.

Research pick: Addressing age concerns - "Upgrading path of aging friendly functional layout in residential spaces based on biology and computer software engineering"

As China’s population ages at an unprecedented pace, research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology suggests that homes increasingly fail to meet the needs of older citizens. By 2050, almost one-third of China’s population will be over 60, meaning the government and policymakers need to focus on safety, independence, and the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people.

The researchers propose a biologically informed approach to housing design. This would take into account the predictable physical, sensory, and cognitive changes associated with aging. Conventional residential designs often fail to accommodate the realities of physical and mental changes as people age. Small, cramped bathrooms, insufficiently separated functional areas, poor lighting, and excessive noise can combine to create environments that affect comfort and safety. According to the research, a more responsive design framework must consider not only structural changes but also daily behaviour and psychological needs.

The team offers a three-pronged strategy for adapting living spaces. The first part considers spatial layout and emphasises barrier-free access and the clear separation of dynamic zones, such as kitchens and corridors, from static areas like bedrooms and lounges, to improve accessibility and reduce the risk of falls. Secondly, furniture and facility design should be optimised for ergonomics, incorporating features such as adjustable seating, well-lit bathrooms, and sanitary fixtures suitable for those with reduced strength or flexibility. The third consideration is the integration of intelligent systems. This could include health-monitoring devices, environmental controls for lighting and temperature, and security technologies, all of which are meant to help older residents without making them feel like they have too much technology.

The team argues that such design improvements have benefits that extend beyond individual households. Age-adapted housing has the potential to improve public health, reduce medical and long-term care expenditures, and sustain social cohesion by promoting autonomy and dignity among the elderly.

Zhou, Y. and Fu, S. (2026) ‘Upgrading path of aging friendly functional layout in residential spaces based on biology and computer software engineering’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 27, No. 28, pp.60–72.