Explore the vast range of titles available.

Purpose: By providing equal weight to buyers and sellers, the purpose of this paper is to enhance our understanding of the determinants underlying successful mergers and acquisitions (M&As) involving a specific segment of firms involved in such undertakings, i.e., knowledge-intensive innovative and entrepreneurial (KIE) firms. Design/methodology/approach: A multiple case study, based on eight semi-structured interviews with CEOs representing acquirers and the acquired firms, investigates the focal phenomenon this study addresses. Findings: The results suggest that knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial firms promote entrepreneurial intentions and allow value creation of M&As through four overarching measures. These are buyer–seller fit, aligned incentives, long-term thinking and perpetual alliance. Research limitations/implications: The outcomes of this research may have limited generalizable due to the chosen research methodology. Therefore, this study recommends future studies testing the validity of these findings. Practical implications: The authors have clarified the drawbacks of integration when being involved in M&As with KIE firms. These drawbacks primarily revolved around not eliminating the entrepreneurs’ autonomy and their routines, but it is also partly related to letting them keep their identity (i.e. their brand) as well as retaining employees’ trust in the new owner. Originality/value: Contrary to most papers, this study has taken an approach giving equal weight to both buyers and sellers. In doing so, this study clarified the drawbacks of integration when it involves M&As with KIE firms. © 2023, Viktor Ström, Pontus Braunerhjelm and Saeid Esmaeilzadeh.

End-users are more active because of demand response programs and the penetration of distributed energy resources in the bottom-layer of the power systems. This paper presents a virtual organization of agents of the power distribution grid for local energy trade. An iterative algorithm is proposed; it enables interaction between end-users and the Distribution Company (DisCo). Then, the performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated in a 33-bus distribution network; its effectiveness is measured in terms of its impact on the energy trading scenarios and, thus, of its contribution to the energy management problem. According to the simulation results, although aggregators do not play the role of decision makers in the proposed model, our iterative algorithm is profitable for them.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines play a crucial role in preventing the spread of the disease. However, the circulation of low-quality and counterfeit vaccines seriously affects human health and the reputation of real vaccine manufacturers (VMs) and increases the amount of fear concerning vaccination. In this study, we address this problem by developing a blockchain-based COVID-19 vaccine tracking system called “Vacchain”. Our Vacchain allows users (USERs) to track and trace the route of vaccines. We propose three mechanisms, namely, a system manager (SYS-MAN), a mutual agreement concerning vaccine ownership, and vaccine passports, to enhance the security and reliability of data recorded in the Vacchain ledger. We develop this system on the Substrate platform with the Rust language. Our implementation, evaluation, and analysis have shown that Vacchain can trace and track vaccines smoothly. In addition, data security and reliability are enhanced by the abovementioned three mechanisms. The proposed system is expected to contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy management is one of the most viable solutions to incentivize prosumers in renewable energy microgrids. As the application of blockchain expends from the finance field to energy field, blockchain technology provides a new opportunity for distributed energy systems. However, a distributed energy system based on blockchains allows any node in the whole network to read data. In many application scenarios, user privacy cannot be effectively protected, and there is a security problem that the attack cannot be traced. In this paper, we propose an energy management mode based on a permissioned blockchain for a renewable energy microgrid. The novel permissioned blockchain framework uses entity mapping with a unique identity for each enterprise, natural person, or device, in order to avoid ineligible participants to join the microgrid. Each peer entity keeps the transaction information index of the whole network, but only keeps its own specific transaction information, so they can retrieve the transaction information of other peer entities but cannot obtain the details without permission. Moreover, this model could avoid communication delays and promote plug-and-play due to the distributed nature of the permissioned blockchain. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated with a demonstration program which is designed and deployed on a Hyperledger Fabric permissioned blockchain. Simulation results show the feasibility of the proposed method, and the model is conducive to the protection privacy and P2P energy management for decentralized energy systems.

Purpose By providing equal weight to buyers and sellers, the purpose of this paper is to enhance our understanding of the determinants underlying successful mergers and acquisitions (M&As) involving a specific segment of firms involved in such undertakings, i.e., knowledge-intensive innovative and entrepreneurial (KIE) firms. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study, based on eight semi-structured interviews with CEOs representing acquirers and the acquired firms, investigates the focal phenomenon this study addresses. Findings The results suggest that knowledge-intensive, innovative and entrepreneurial firms promote entrepreneurial intentions and allow value creation of M&As through four overarching measures. These are buyer–seller fit, aligned incentives, long-term thinking and perpetual alliance. Research limitations/implications The outcomes of this research may have limited generalizable due to the chosen research methodology. Therefore, this study recommends future studies testing the validity of these findings. Practical implications The authors have clarified the drawbacks of integration when being involved in M&As with KIE firms. These drawbacks primarily revolved around not eliminating the entrepreneurs’ autonomy and their routines, but it is also partly related to letting them keep their identity (i.e. their brand) as well as retaining employees’ trust in the new owner. Originality/value Contrary to most papers, this study has taken an approach giving equal weight to both buyers and sellers. In doing so, this study clarified the drawbacks of integration when it involves M&As with KIE firms.

Large-scale development of small-scale generation, and facilities based on this, with their integration into existing distribution networks, qualitatively change the modes and tasks of network management and transform previously passive electric networks into active ones. Features of parameters and modes of small-scale generation, insufficient observability and manageability in centralized management determine the need to use a decentralized multi-agent control of the modes of such networks. First of all, this applies to emergency management, which includes automatic restoration of the integrity and normal operation of the network. This paper presents a set of specialized methods for emergency management of active power grid modes and the results of a study of their effectiveness on mathematical and physical models that confirm the feasibility of using decentralized emergency management and network recovery management. In particular, this includes: a method of emergency proactively balanced separation of grid energy districts along one of the a priori fixed network cross-sections in the event of disturbances with the transition to island mode, and a method for two-stage restoration of the integrity and normal network mode with decentralized synchronization of active parts on remote network switches. In the case of the decentralized remote synchronization of active parts, it is proposed to use special control of the excitation and speed of generators to create conditions for the successful operation of automatic reclosing devices with synchronization detection. It is essential for emergency management in active networks with small generation to reject the concept of ensuring the reliability of power supply through maintaining the integrity of the network in favor of the concept of an emergency-balanced breakdown of the network into balanced areas with the subsequent automatic restoration of integrity. To conduct research on the physical model, a prototype of distributed system emergency automation has been developed that does not use data transmission tools, which ensures its high cybersecurity and the feasibility of decentralized management.

Energy management systems are essential and indispensable for the secure and optimal operation of autonomous polygeneration microgrids which include distributed energy technologies and multiple electrical loads. In this paper, a multi-agent decentralized energy management system was designed. In particular, the devices of the microgrid under study were controlled as interactive agents. The energy management problem was formulated here through the application of game theory, in order to model the set of strategies between two players/agents, as a non-cooperative power control game or a cooperative one, according to the level of the energy produced by the renewable energy sources and the energy stored in the battery bank, for the purpose of accomplishing optimal energy management and control of the microgrid operation. The Nash equilibrium was used to compromise the possible diverging goals of the agents by maximizing their preferences. The proposed energy management system was then compared with a multi-agent decentralized energy management system where all the agents were assumed to be cooperative and employed agent coordination through Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. The results obtained from this comparison, demonstrate that the application of game theory based control, in autonomous polygeneration microgrids, can ensure operational and financial benefits over known energy management approaches incorporating distributed intelligence.

BackgroundHomecare services introduced in India back in 2009 remain primarily unorganized, lagging behind bureaucratic bottlenecks that affect efficiency, patient trust, and satisfaction. Decentralized organizational structures, such as self-managed organizations, may solve these challenges by improving patient management efficiency and outcomes.ObjectiveThis study explores the applicability of self-managed organizational structures in homecare services in India. Drawing inspiration from Buurtzorg Nederland, it investigates how decentralized management can enhance operational efficiency, workforce engagement, and patient satisfaction. The study specifically examines the perspectives of management members in self-managed homecare organizations.MethodsA qualitative research approach was taken using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with twelve management members of Buurtzorg Edugreen in India. The sample included individuals with 5 to 25 years of managerial experience in healthcare. Thematic analysis was conducted through a constant comparative method following Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) to derive key themes related to self-management in homecare organizations.ResultsTwo main themes emerged from the data: (1) Creating a nurturing work environment to foster employee well-being and engagement, and (2) Enhancing communication and coordination within self-managed homecare organizations. Sub-themes included organizational culture, employee empowerment, conflict resolution strategies, and the use of technology for communication. The findings emphasize trust, shared vision, and team collaboration in self-managed organizations.ConclusionsAdoption of self-management practices can improve the homecare service in India because self-managed organizational structures work towards creating a collaborative and trust work culture, reducing communication inefficiencies. This management member’s perspective on the need for structured conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity towards management, and leveraging technology helps improve coordination. It leads to the incorporation of self-managed models as part of health care reforms for policy implications, and further research may be needed on long-term impacts on patient and employee retention rates.

A large portion of supply chain networks have experienced hardships when attempting to incorporate all parts and partners, which make supply chain management network the board framework experiencing an absence of effectiveness and straightforwardness that make a consistent expansion in product misrepresentation and customer’s mistake. All data about product creation, stockpiling and transportation should stream obviously during all phases of the production network by following and validating to keep away from item’s tampering in the organization. Current software is based on top of brought together engineering and this leaves a hole for altering and bogus data particularly in metropolitan region, yet additionally the current arrangements can’t permit the data to be imparted to authorities or buyers to successfully survey and guarantee recognizability and straightforwardness. This paper proposes use of blockchain to store details of product and logistics level to provide assurance to consumer regarding authenticity of product.