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Proceedings IFKAD 2024

Translating Knowledge into Innovation Dynamics
List of Included Articles:
The Metaverse, Providing Knowledge Transfer in Educational Organisations: A Practical Approach
Massimo Pescarollo, Paola Pisano, Matteo Migheli, Francesco Quatraro

Human environments are the spaces where activities and relationships are carried out. These environments refer not only to physical places, but also to virtual spaces where activities such as knowledge transfer and learning processes happen. (Del Giudice, Scuotto and Papa, 2023). Considering that, since the end of the last century the Knowledge Age started, various evidence has shown that traditional organisations are having a competitiveness crisis in a V.U.C.A. world (Jin, 1999). This paper evaluates whether providing knowledge in a digital environment using the Metaverse technology is effective improving skills and confidence of the users. The first research question of the paper explores the impact of the Metaverse on students’ knowledge and confidence changes, together with student’s perspectives, by conducting a practical experiment on 45 students from the Bachelor course of “Economics and business models management” in the ICT & Media faculty at Università degli Studi di Torino. A negotiation business case was developed in Spatial thanks to the collaboration with Synesthesia, an Italian digital experience company with expertise in digital application development. Meta Quest 2 viewers were used for the experimentation. This experiment aims to understand whether the Metaverse leads to better learning results in knowledge transfer. To this goal, the experimental setting used two different scenarios, where one was negotiating in the Metaverse and the other in an in-person simulation. Students filled in a questionnaire to measure their level of knowledge on aspects related to the theory and practice of negotiation before the course and after the case; the questionnaire also collected some socio-demographic information, such as gender and educational background. The findings of this study are encouraging and could contribute to understanding the transformative power of the Metaverse as a tool for enhancing equal knowledge transfer in educational institutions. Students who engaged in practical cases within the Metaverse demonstrated a higher proficiency in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, demonstrating higher confidence. Notably, female students who engaged in the Metaverse experienced a higher increase in confidence compared to female students who ran the negotiation in person. This highlights the potential of the Metaverse in fostering an equal knowledge transfer process, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Measuring Patient Experience: Unveiling the Influence of Risk Perception and Technology Acceptance on Healthcare Experiences
Luigi Jesus Basile, Nunzia Carbonara, Michele Gorgoglione

This research study aims at analyzing the factors influencing the patient experience and exploring the effect of the patient risk beliefs and technology perception on the patient experience. A new measurement scale of the patient experience is developed, where the patients’ health risk beliefs and their technology perception have been added to the “standard” domains of the patient experience, and the outcome of a quality patient experience is measured across three dimensions: patient satisfaction, loyalty, and recommendation behaviours/word-of-mouth. Furthermore, a multi-item scale was developed and a survey has been designed to collect data and empirically measure the effect of the patient risk beliefs and technology perception on the patient experience.

The Rhythm of Consumer Desire: Exploring Attachments in Music-Related Fan Engagement
Gabriele Santoro, Giacomo Bagna, Rebecca Pera

The study delves into the nuanced dynamics of attachment within the context of music artists and their fans, extending the discourse to parallelisms with attachment to other mediums like brands and products. Drawing from the premise that human beings inherently seek attachments for psychological well-being and social belonging, this research broadens the scope of attachment beyond interpersonal relationships to include connections with creative products and personal “heroes” like music artists. Specifically, the paper aims to identify the factors shaping the relationship between fans and artists. The research employs an inductive approach through qualitative interviews with regular music listeners. Moreover, it also involves netnographic analysis of online fan communities. In terms of findings, the research identifies key dimensions shaping the fans-artists bond: emotionality, identity, sociality, and the perception of music. The study’s findings illuminate the multifaceted nature of attachment in the digital age, revealing diverse modes of fan engagement ranging from deeply emotional and identity-driven connections to more casual, background interactions with music. A key contribution of this study lies in the development of a fan taxonomy based on varying degrees and modes of attachment, offering new insights into consumer behaviour in the creative sectors.

Time Driven Activity-Based Costing to Explore the Hidden Knowledge in Healthcare Processes’ Costs
Lorella Cannavacciuolo, Salvatore Ercolano, Massimo Majolo, Cristina Ponsiglione, Elena Tortora

This paper presents a TDABC model implemented in a Gynecology and Obstetrics Department to assess and compare three important processes for the completion of childbirth: elective cesarean section, spontaneous delivery, and emergency cesarean section. The childbirth process is a relevant process as the excessive use of cesarean sections and the unmet need for it could emerge as a barrier to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Gynecology and Obstetrics Department is an organization with a strong attention towards the appropriateness of childbirth processes and the cost associated to these procedures. Therefore, it is a fertile ground to implement the TDABC. The results show that the two activities that differentiate the c-section and Spontaneous delivery processes, respectively “surgery” and “labor”, also represent the activities with the highest incidence in terms of cost. The contribution of this paper lies not merely in the application of sophisticated cost accounting methods, like TDABC, but rather in highlighting the potential benefits that TDABC can bring by increasing managers’ awareness of the actual costs associated with the processes. According to a Value-based healthcare approach, the emerged improvements are associated to the outcome rather than to the cost. In particular, the improvements are addressed to reduce the inappropriate c-sections. Nevertheless, the application of TDABC has allowed to compute the saving than can be obtained with the reduction of c-sections.

The Dynamics of Knowledge Transfer in Health: An Overview of the Last 10 Years
Clarissa Carneiro Mussi, Gabriela Gonçalves Silveira Fiates, Adriana Back Koerich, Demis Marques, Rosinei Souza Horácio, Luiz Alberto Sobrinho Almeida

Although the importance of knowledge management in organisational relationships is evident, promoting it is one of the most complex challenges managers face, requiring resources and efforts to develop routines that promote interaction. This challenge becomes even greater in healthcare relationships considering the complexity of these organisations in terms of healthcare infrastructure, technology, inputs, and personnel allocation. This article aims to analyse how knowledge transfer is characterised in interorganisational relationships in the healthcare sector. The nature of the research is bibliographic, involving a systematic literature review adopting protocol proposed by Tranfield, Denyer, and Smart (2003) and Prisma procedures. A total of 32 publications in top journals were obtained. The selected articles were analysed using thematic and bibliometric analysis. The results demonstrate a high interest in the topic, reflected by the significant number of authors dedicated to the subject, diversity and interdisciplinary nature of the journals. US and UK authors account for the majority of publications, alongside significant European contributions. Knowledge transfer via networks and partnerships gained scientific acclaim, especially amid Covid-19. Additionally, relationships span across public and private health sectors, governmental agencies, and academic institutions, predominantly involving the public sector, occurring at local, regional, and international levels. Knowledge in healthcare and health management was disseminated through various mechanisms, ranging from personal interactions to advanced technological tools. Interorganizational knowledge transfer within the healthcare sector faces numerous challenges, which can potentially threaten the sustainability of such partnerships. Various aspects play a crucial role in the effectiveness of knowledge transfer in these interorganizational contexts, including: relationship management; characteristics of the partners and the relationship; external environment and intrinsic characteristics of the healthcare sector; and available resources. Generally, the analysis revealed that knowledge transfer in health has yielded positive outcomes across six main dimensions: health promotion; expansion of access and coverage of healthcare services; enhancement of the quality of care; optimisation of health management; support for evidence-based policymaking; and development of new technologies and innovations in healthcare delivery and management. These findings suggest that knowledge transfer in interorganisational healthcare relationships has globally contributed to public health. However, it is a complex process that necessitates collaborative efforts across multiple dimensions to achieve desired outcomes.

Development of a Maturity Model for Telemedicine Services: Towards an Integrated Approach for Implementation
Mattia Vincenzo Olive, Chiara Sgarbossa, Deborah De Cesare, Margherita Mazzeo, Paolo Locatelli, Cristina Masella, Mariano Corso

This research was aimed at developing the “Digital Health Observatory Maturity Model for Telemedicine Services” (DHO-TeleMM), as a tool for the implementation and improvement processes of telemedicine services. The model adopts a sociotechnical perspective, assuming that the technical and social elements of a system are interdependent and should be considered in a holistic manner to ensure the best possible outcomes. The development of this tool underwent a three-step development process: a) Knowledge Acquisition from existing comparable frameworks, previous evidence on the topic and the theoretical stance of the research, b) Knowledge Testing on three in-depth case studies, and c) Model Validation through an interactive workshop. The DHO-TeleMM addresses telemedicine services as objects of analysis at organizational, regional or ecosystem level. Four key dimensions were identified – i) digital platforms, ii) data collection and valorization, iii) roles, processes and organization, iv) culture and competencies. Each dimension involves several sub-dimensions and four evolutionary levels characterized by specific sociotechnical configurations. Future developments of this model include continuous update and improvement through empirical application, along with the development of a set of metrics to strengthen its prescriptive capability. Practical applications and theoretical contributions are discussed.

Innovation Nexus: FabLabs as Catalysts for Entrepreneurship through Community Engagement
Mario Ripoll-Domínguez, David Hidalgo-Carvajal, Gustavo Morales-Alonso

This research investigates the evolution, challenges, and entrepreneurial dynamics within FabLabs, innovative spaces fostering grassroots creativity and community engagement. Through a multiple case study methodology focusing on FabLabs in Spain, insights were gathered from interviews with FabLab managers, exploring their outlook, responses to Covid-19, and evidence of entrepreneurial spirit and post-capitalist attitudes. The findings underscore the importance of adaptability and community engagement for FabLabs, especially in navigating challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. FabLabs embody hybrid models of innovation that balance entrepreneurial activities with broader social and environmental objectives, prioritizing values such as community empowerment, collaboration, and sustainability. For FabLab managers, implications include embracing adaptability, prioritizing community engagement, and balancing entrepreneurial spirit with social impact. Academics can explore these dynamics to understand innovation ecosystems and post-capitalist paradigms further. Public institutions can support FabLabs by investing in infrastructure, promoting collaboration, and developing supportive policy frameworks. While this research provides valuable insights, limitations regarding generalizability and perspectives warrant further investigation into FabLabs’ role in fostering innovation and community development on a broader scale.

The Twin Transition: Digital Technologies Adoption and Sustainability Practices in Sports Industry
Sirirat Sae Lim, Ming-Yung Su

This study delves into the simultaneous adoption of digital technologies (DTs) and sustainability practices within the sports industry to gain insights into how organizations manage these dual transitions. Integrating digital technologies has profoundly impacted various facets of sports, such as fan engagement, athlete performance analysis, and operational efficiency. Concurrently, the industry increasingly emphasizes adopting sustainable practices to address environmental concerns and enhance social responsibility. The research methodology involves conducting focus group discussions with key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds within the sports industry. These discussions delve into the challenges, opportunities, and strategies associated with digitalization and sustainability in sports organizations. Through thematic analysis, the research analyses the key drivers and actors in DTs adoption in baseball. It sheds light on how sports organizations’ twin transition toward adopting digital technologies and sustainability practices. It underscores the importance of integrated strategies that harness digital innovations while aligning with broader sustainability objectives in the sports industry and provides insights into government management and sports practices.

Harnessing Digitalization for Sustainable Development Goals: Industry Perspectives
Vincenzo Varriale, Antonello Cammarano, Francesca Michelino, Mauro Caputo, Claudio Del Regno, Mirko Perano

The convergence between sustainability and digital transformation is growing exponentially in the current academic debate. Digital technologies have the potential to support various activities aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the 2030 Agenda. Although several studies have focused on these issues, the scientific literature has been lacking in comprehensively analyzing this link at the sector and industry level. This article aims to provide an extensive overview of the triple link “digital technologies – sectors & industry – SDGs”. By using data collection from the extant scientific literature, 1,098 sustainable business practices have been collected from 578 papers based on the use of 11 digital technologies considering 17 industries for the achievement of the 17 SDGs. The paper aims to contribute by comprehensively mapping digital technologies for sustainability issues. The results show how artificial intelligence is used in various industries to achieve SDGs 7, 12, and 13. Furthermore, geospatial technologies are applied in agriculture to obtain SDGs 2, 3, 6, 12, and 15. The study aims to assist managers and policymakers in making informed decisions regarding investments in specific digital technologies within certain industries for sustainability purposes.

The Venture Builder Models: A Comprehensive Framework for Venture Creation Processes
Leonardo Santoro, Gabriele Santoro

In the last decade there has been an emergence of a new players of venture creation named Startup Studios, also often referred to as Company Builders, Startup Factories, Venture Builders and with other names. Despite its general adoption among scholars and practitioners, there remains a notable ambiguity in the terminology used to describe this phenomenon. The difficulty in having a homogeneous and consistent terminology is a communication barrier for scholars and practitioners as well as an element of noise. The need to have an umbrella term is necessary because of the widespread use among practitioners of the term Startup Studio or similar terms (Company Builders, Startup Factory) while including realities that are different from each other. The term startup studios, indeed, indicates only one approach of new venture creation and does not include within it other models such as corporate venture builders (CVB). This paper proposes the use of the term “Venture Builder” as an umbrella term capable of encapsulating all aspects of this type of new venture creation. This paper aims also to identify and analyse the commonalities and differences among different venture builder models. In fact, the lack of clarity can preclude the understanding of some aspects of this phenomenon and lead scholars to have trouble identifying and researching this emerging field, failing to enable them to recognize the relationships among the factors that constitute the venture builder as a model of new venture creation. Through an illustrative multi-case study this research provides a framework of three models constructed from factors that are empirically proven in a new venture creation process. This comprehensive framework of Venture Builder models is built using the elements of the conceptual framework proposed by Vogel to describe the process of new venture creation (NVC). Our study reveals how from the perspective of new venture creation it is possible to synthesize venture building players in three different models: corporate venture builder, venture builder agency, startup studios.

Knowledge Management Practices in Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Literature Review
Furong Cai, Ettore Bolisani, Tomas Cherkos Kassaneh, Behrooz Moradi, Enrico Scarso

In an era where sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) is increasingly paramount, the integration with knowledge management (KM) practices emerges as a critical, yet neglected area. Recent developments in SE have heightened the need for KM, and concurrently, KM is recognized as a crucial instrument for SE. Despite acknowledging this key role of KM practices in securing a competitive advantage in SE, the existing literature rarely bridges KM with the nuanced requirements of SE, which highlights significant research gaps. This study aims to illuminate the intersection of KM and SE, using a systematic literature review to dissect how KM practices enhance sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives. Through an extensive search across Scopus and Web of Science databases and employing rigorous selection criteria, a total of 80 papers were identified. A synthesis of key findings from the field of KM and SE was conducted, revealing a rising trend in research interest over the past two decades, with a notable concentration of researchers in Asian countries. The study highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing, creation, acquisition, and application as key KM practices in SE, identifying emerging trends and research interests in this field. The key contributions of this research are: (1) it illuminates the integral role of KM practices within the domain of SE, bridging a notable gap in existing literature; (2) it systematically identifies and synthesizes the prevailing trends and key themes at the intersection of KM and SE, revealing both the depth and breadth of research to date; (3) it highlights significant research gaps and suggests future directions, particularly advocating for the adoption of diverse methodologies, including qualitative and mixed-method approaches, to explore the multifaceted nature of KM in SE; and (4) it underscores the practical implications of leveraging KM practices to foster SE, aiming to inform future academic and practical applications in the field.

Financing Open Innovation: Equity or Debt?
Salvatore Tallarico, Alessandra Coli, Valentina Lazzarotti, Simone Lazzini, Luisa Pellegrini, Emanuele Tasso

The internal innovation activities of firms often encounter obstacles (i.e., factors hampering innovation activities) such as economic constraints and lack of skilled employees within enterprises, prompting them to adopt an Open Innovation (OI) approach as a means to overcome the obstacles and thus to achieve innovation performance, intended as Innovation Industrial Performance (IIP) and Innovation Financial Performance (IFP). Using data from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS), the study firstly investigates whether OI is able to exert this mediation role. Second, the study investigates the moderating role of financing techniques, specifically debt and equity, on the relationship between OI and firm Innovation Industrial Performance (IIP) and Innovation Financial Performance (IFP). It explores whether equity and debt support OI in enhancing such performance types. Our results show that, while OI proves effective in overcoming innovation hurdles, it does not mediate the relationship between the factors hampering innovation activities and IFP, suggesting a temporal lag between innovation and its financial outcomes. The findings of this study suggest that equity enhances both IIP and IFP by bolstering competencies and financial capacity. In contrast, debt primarily benefits IFP by providing readily available resources. Notably, debt does not influence IIP, indicating its limited contribution to cognitive and knowledge resources essential for innovation. However, the study acknowledges limitations, including the lack of longitudinal data, which hinders the assessment of time lag effects between innovation and financial performance.

Empirical Investigation of the Influence of Digital Business Strategy on Innovation Performance in Manufacturing Sector in Spain
Olga Grieva, Fatima Guadamillas, Mario J. Donate

Digital transformation and knowledge management are evolving research streams in the strategic management field, and its growing importance inspires researchers to investigate it from different perspectives and contexts. Even though the analysed literature points to the existence of relationships between strategy, knowledge management, technology, and the dynamism inherent in these interactions, their positive effects on companies’ results have not been properly discussed. With the aim to propose a framework that can guide managers and policymakers in successfully implementing a digital transformation journey in their organizations, this paper aims to validate the proposed predictive theoretical model on the relationship between digital business strategy and innovation performance. For testing the proposed model, we are going to survey the national manufacturing companies in Spain. The data will be analysed by using partial least squares (PLS)-path modelling. Our expected outcomes are of substantial practical value for companies at the global (general) and European (specific) levels as they clarify that building digital capabilities together with absorptive capacity and aligning them with digital and knowledge strategies leads companies towards improved innovation performance.

Bridging Innovation Gaps: A Case Study on Inter-Organisational Knowledge Sharing Facilitated by a University Research Team
Jana Matošková

To foster innovation, organisations frequently encourage the exchange of knowledge as a strategy to nurture inventive solutions and gain insights from the experiences of others. This paper explores the concept of inter-organisational knowledge sharing. Drawing upon a case study centred on the PeopleFirst research team at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic, this paper illuminates innovative methodologies employed to infuse knowledge sharing within their activities. The team seamlessly integrates sharing workshops and sharing excursions, providing conducive platforms for collaborative discourse and idea exchange amongst diverse stakeholders. Sharing workshops serve as interactive forums where representatives from various sectors engage with the research team and each other to discuss ongoing research topics. These workshops are conducted physically, but the team has also gained positive experience with their online format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feedback from participants underscores the perceived advantages of these workshops, including diverse perspectives and a stimulating atmosphere conducive to creativity. Complementing sharing workshops, sharing excursions entail immersive field visits to organisations, allowing participants to glean first-hand insights into internal knowledge-sharing mechanisms and engage in discussions facilitated by the research team. The Balint Group discussion format is used to promote the exchange of experiences and insights. Feedback from participants highlights the value of these excursions in terms of inspiration for their own work. On the other hand, team members have the opportunity to gain insights into topics of interest for practice. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of collaborative initiatives in fostering a culture of innovation and emphasises the symbiotic relationship between university research teams and organisations. The case study emphasises the benefits of these innovative practices for both academia and industry. For research teams, they provide access to new data and valuable feedback, enhancing their motivation and demonstrating the practical impact of their work. Participating organisations, on the other hand, gain fresh insights and recognise the value of collaborating with universities. The reciprocal nature of the relationship ensures a continuous flow of knowledge and shared learning experiences.

The role of Generative AI in Design Thinking: A Knowledge Creation Perspective
Ruggero Colombari, Alba Manresa

This study examines the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools within Design Thinking (DT) processes, particularly focusing on knowledge creation as a theoretical lens. The research setting is education, where active learning methodologies are adopted to realign education with new market-demand skills such as creativity and critical thinking, especially in a context of rapid transformation due to digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. In this regard, the present research posits that DT processes (a methodology) emphasize innovation and creativity, objectives that are shared with GenAI (a technology). Considering all the previous, this study aims to understand how GenAI intervenes in knowledge creation in DT processes, and its impact on students’ learning and skills development. To address these research objectives, the present article employs a mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods. It involves classroom observations, student surveys and performance analysis in the context of an innovation management course that leverages a Challenge-based Learning approach and a DT methodology. Findings indicate that GenAI is more effectively used in convergent phases of DT, contributing to information synthesis and problem-solving. However, in divergent phases, excessive reliance on GenAI appears to diminish students’ inherent creativity and critical thinking, leading to poorer performance, and while GenAI aids in expanding the scope of research and idea generation in DT processes, it faces limitations in creativity and reliability. Furthermore, despite recognizing the utility of GenAI, there is a noticeable reluctance among students to declare its usage. Concerning the knowledge creation throughout the process, the results suggest that effectiveness of GenAI varies across different phases of the SECI model: it is more advantageous in the combination phase, but faces challenges in capturing tacit knowledge. This study contributes to theory with new insights into the integration of advanced technologies in well-established knowledge creation models, while also reconciling them with literature about DT processes. From the practitioner standpoint, this study provides valuable guidelines for educators and professionals on how GenAI can be effectively integrated into user-centered DT methodologies for active learning and innovation management.

Exploring Innovative Collaboration Opportunities Between Higher Education Institutions and Industry Organisations in Competency Development
Gabriella Cserháti, Eszter Bogdány, Ágnes Raffay-Danyi

The accelerated pace of economic and social development has significant impacts on labour market expectations, from both employers’ and employees’ side. Technological advancements, especially digitalisation has changed jobs, and the ways certain tasks are performed (Pirohov-Tóth and Kiss, 2022). Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to the emergence of atypical working conditions. The changing environment has resulted in changing competency expectations in recent years, which highlighted the need for higher education institutions to train students who can adapt flexibly to changing environmental conditions. The current research focuses on exploring innovative educational collaborations between university and labour market stakeholders to address deficiencies in graduate competencies in the field of business and economics. Expert opinions on the crucial competencies required for entry-level positions that can be obtained with a business degree assist in identifying deficiencies in these competencies and in exploring potential collaborative efforts to address these shortcomings. The expected competencies were identified by desk research, by content analysis of the Hungarian higher education competency requirements, and review of job advertisements from Hungarian job portals and the international online database (O*NET) to reveal requirements across an international basis. Focus group interviews with industry professionals were conducted to understand labour market expectations and identify graduates’ competency deficiencies. Based on the findings of the previous desk and primary research, Q-methodology research was employed to assess the competency preferences. In addition, two workshops with industry professionals were organized, and expert interviews were conducted to explore rationales behind the preferences, investigate the insufficiencies in graduates’ competencies, and to unveil potential collaborations to address the shortcomings. The results indicated the significant importance of soft skills, and the main deficiencies of graduates’ skills related to assertive communication. Furthermore, industry professionals detected a lack in the ability to apply theory in practice and in synthesizing information. The workshops and the expert interviews unveiled innovative suggestions for collaborative competency development, including the involvement of industry professionals in education through activities such as guest lectures and shadowing, field visits, internships and case study events to provide opportunities for students to apply their professional knowledge in real-life situations. Furthermore, specialized trainings in business communication, role-play situations, and social work opportunities were mentioned as activities which can be conducted in collaboration of university and industry partners to enhance graduates’ workplace skills.

First Job Skills: A Model to Integrate Technology and Wellbeing for Future Competences in Higher Education Institutions
Francisco Javier Álvarez-Torres, Giovanni Schiuma, Francisco Javier Velázquez-Sagahón, Gabriela Citlalli López-Torres

This study explores the complex relationship between technology and well-being in recent graduates entering the workforce of Industry 4.0. While technology offers flexibility through remote work, it also poses challenges like attention fatigue and emotional strain. The research focuses on how recent graduates navigate this balance, particularly as they adapt to their first jobs. On one hand, technology can enhance well-being through flexible work arrangements. However, excessive or improper use can negatively affect well-being, especially for new employees lacking experience in managing this balance. This research investigates how recent graduates integrate technology into their work lives, how it impacts their overall well-being, and how they develop the necessary skills for this digital environment. This applied and general research aims to create models for understanding the connection between well-being perception, technology, and new skills during the job transition period. It surveyed 1,400 university students in their final semesters and recent graduates in Mexico. The research employs a mixed approach. It’s exploratory, aiming to gain insights into a relatively unexplored area – the impact of Industry 4.0 technology on graduates’ well-being. It’s also correlational, examining the relationships between variables, and descriptive, providing detailed information about these relationships. The study is empirical, relying on data from an online questionnaire. It’s non-experimental, meaning there’s no manipulation of variables. Additionally, it’s cross-sectional, collecting data at a single point in time. Finally, it aligns with a post-positivist philosophy. The research reveals a concerning trend: recent graduates show signs of addiction to social media and technology. They spend excessive time online, exhibiting emotional dependence and reduced focus on work tasks. Moreover, they lack awareness of the potential negative effects of Industry 4.0 technology on their well-being, including mental health impacts, attention loss, and exposure to inappropriate content. These findings highlight the urgent need for interventions. Educational institutions should prioritize digital literacy education, develop attention skills, and promote responsible technology use among students and graduates. Additionally, fostering open communication between parents, educators, and young adults is crucial to effectively address these challenges. Addiction to social networks and a lack of understanding of Industry 4.0’s consequences demand deeper focus and collaborative action. Society, particularly higher education institutions, needs to take the lead. Educational programs and organizational practices must adapt to meet the evolving demands of Industry 4.0, prioritizing the development of social, emotional, and human skills for the digital workforce.

The Impact of the Tutor’s Role and Technology on the Knowledge Transfer to the University Students: Developing a Conceptual Model
Danila Scarozza, Maria Menshikova, Isabella Bonacci, Lucia Aiello, Stefano Di Lauro

The advancement of technology and the integration of digital tools into the learning process have had a profound impact on knowledge transfer within universities, including both traditional and online institutions. However, it is widely recognized that successful knowledge transfer relies not only on technology that facilitates the creation, acquisition, transfer, sharing, and utilization of knowledge, but also on individual factors such as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of both tutors and students. In recent years, there has been extensive research into the transformation of the role of university tutors in terms of their competencies and behaviors. Furthermore, some research underscore the importance of considering institutional characteristics, tutor features, and student profiles when designing and evaluating university-tutoring programs. The theoretical framework of this study is based on three main perspectives for evaluating tutoring: 1) the structure of the tutoring program; 2) the skills and functions of the tutor; and 3) the benefits received by the students. The objective of this paper is to develop a conceptual model that hypothesizes interdependencies among these three areas, all of which are significantly influenced by digital technologies and tools. Drawing from a review of the literature and relevant previous studies, a set of latent variables and their representations through measurable items have been selected for analysis using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) statistical technique. Finally, the conceptual framework developed has led to the formulation of several hypotheses that will be examined in subsequent stages of the study.

Gamification and its Relevance to Knowledge Management: A Systematic Literature Review
Behrooz Moradi, Ettore Bolisani, Tomas Cherkos Kassaneh, Enrico Scarso, Furong Cai

The emergence of digital platforms has brought about a transformation in the landscape of learning and skills enhancement, with gamification playing a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge. Although the potential of gamification for motivating individuals to share their knowledge has been recognised in recent research, there is a significant gap in the literature. This gap relates to the extensive application and influence of gamification, particularly in the fields of business and higher education. To address it, a comprehensive review of existing literature was undertaken. It aims to explore the use of gamification in the field of Knowledge Management (KM) and to identify the areas that have benefited from gamification. It also sought to scrutinise the specific industries and academic fields that have integrated gamification into their knowledge management sub-fields. In addition, the study aimed to compare the similarities and differences in the use of gamification and its impact on KM in the business and higher education sectors. The study involved an in-depth examination of 244 academic articles listed in international citation databases. This literature review provided invaluable insights into the implementation of gamification in various KM sub-fields and its patterns and importance. The results of this study enrich the existing body of knowledge on the intersection of gamification and knowledge management. They provide a solid foundation for subsequent empirical research and also serve as a guide for organisations and institutions to make informed decisions about incorporating gamification into their knowledge management sub-fields. Looking ahead, possible avenues for future research could be to investigate less researched sub-fields of knowledge management, such as knowledge management systems and knowledge workers. Future research could also investigate the lasting effects of gamification on knowledge retention and sharing. Furthermore, it could include the formulation of best practices for the design and execution of gamification strategies for different sub-fields of knowledge management.

The Maturity Level and Benefits of Human Resource Analytics in a Public Organization Providing Social and Health Services
Sini Tenhovuori

The potential of human resource analytics (HRA) has been in the spotlight among scholars and leaders during past few years. At same time, public organizations providing social and health services have faced unseen challenges posed by aging populations, global health treats and growing shortage of professionals. Human resource analytics aims to meet these challenges by improving efficient, objective, and rational decision-making. (Asghari-Jafarabadi et al, 2019; van den Heuvel & Bondarouk, 2017; Margherita 2022). Human resource analytics refers to the logical actions by which personnel-related information is analyzed and visualized (van den Heuvel & Bondarouk 2017). Based on the information collected from human resources, the aim is to identify phenomena related to HR management and related cause-and-effect relationships (Kaboor et al, 2012). HRA can thus achieve significant benefits from an organizational point of view (Chatterjee 2021; Zaim et al, 2018). Successful implementation of HRA is dependent on data quality, presence of analytical skills, supporting organizational culture, and standard framework (Chakraborty & Parveen 2022). In order to benefit from HRA, organizations must replace the traditional, intuition-based ways of working (Dahlbom et al, 2019) Since the organizations have posed great efforts to improve the knowledge-based management and HRA, they have also a need to measure the maturity of HRA and monitor the possible benefits that can be achieved by the utilization of knowledge-based management and HRA. This study aims to describe, how HRA develop in organizations and how the maturity level of HRA can be measured. The purpose of this study is to describe, how the maturity of HRA can be measured and how the maturity level is in relation to the promised benefits that organizations can achieve by utilizing HRA. To achieve purposes a systematic literature review of articles on HRA was prepared on three major databases. A total of 23 manuscripts from 2010 to 2024 were content analyzed. The results reveal that there are multiple factors affecting the development and maturity level of HRA. The identified factors were grouped into 5 categories: The structure and culture of the organization, HRA teams, HR analysts, HR data, and HR metrics and analytics. The results also reveal that organizations can achieve multiple benefits by utilization of HRA. These identified factors were grouped into 5 categories: employee well-being; improvement of decision making; employee competence management; strategic human resources management and manpower planning and performance management and organizational attraction.

Proceedings IFKAD 2024
Translating Knowledge into Innovation Dynamics

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