Improving the quality of strategic decision-making process in universities through employing expert systems: A case study from a developing country

Strategic decisions represent the fundamental core of the strategic planning process and strategic management in universities and they are essential in shaping the universities' policies and achieving their strategic goals. Without those strategic decisions, the universities stand unable to achieve their strategic goals and mission; therefore, specialists realized the critical importance of improving the quality of strategic decision-making in the current complex fast-changing environment that its dynamism continuously increases and which is based on the use of cutting-edge information and communications technology (ICT). Undoubtedly strategic decision-making process requires processing a huge amount of information with different robust smart methods and the extensive use of experts knowledge. There are many discussions about the uses and applications of expert systems (ESs), which are evolving rapidly in solving real problems in many fields that require experienced experts with deep sound experiences, and despite these many applications in many different fields and domains. Literature reveals that there is a scarcity of scientific research on how to employ expert systems to raise the quality of strategic decision-making processes in universities. Thus the purpose of the research is to fill this research gap by investigating how expert systems will enhance the quality of the strategic decision-making process in universities. The research design is a case study applied in Ain Shams University as a model of public universities in a developing country. This research makes a new research contribution by suggesting a futuristic proposal for improving the quality of the strategic decision-making process in universities through employing expert systems that are based on the theoretical framework of the research and the results of the field study.

Modern Geográfia: múlt, jelen és jövő – egy szakmai folyóirat elmúlt 15 évének tükre

The scholarly journal Modern Geográfia has been providing a publication platform for researchers of geography and, more broadly, the natural and social sciences for 15 years now. Effective dissemination of scientific results is of paramount importance in broadening the horizons of both basic and applied research. The aim of the present study is to explore the role of Modern Geográfia in the above process, thus to outline its profile and possible directions for its further development. The applied method can be an effective help in formulating the portfolio and the strategic goals of other scholarly journals. The methodological basis of the research is provided by the statistical analysis of the journal based on a primary database containing several indicators. The results cover the number of articles published in the journal, in addition to the dynamics of the publications, its profiling, the presentation of the affected topics, and the evaluation of the trends of recent years. In addition to all this, the study reviews the team of professionals that has given content to the journal with the results of its scientific research.

Structural Analysis of Lignin-Based Furan Resin

The global “carbon emission peak” and “carbon neutrality” strategic goals promote us to replace current petroleum-based resin products with biomass-based resins. The use of technical lignins and hemicellulose-derived furfuryl alcohol in the production of biomass-based resins are among the most promising ways. Deep understanding of the resulting resin structure is a prerequisite for the optimization of biomass-based resins. Herein, a semiquantitative 2D HSQC NMR technique supplemented by the quantitative 31P NMR and methoxyl group wet chemistry analysis were employed for the structural elucidation of softwood kraft lignin-based furfuryl alcohol resin (LFA). The LFA was fractionated into water-insoluble (LFA-I) and soluble (LFA-S) parts. The analysis of methoxyl groups showed that the amount of lignin was 85 wt% and 44 wt% in LFA-I and LFA-S fractions, respectively. The HSQC spectra revealed the high diversity of linkages formed between lignin and poly FA (pFA). The HSQC and 31P results indicated the formation of new condensed structures, particularly at the 5-position of the aromatic ring. Esterification reactions between carboxyl groups of lignin and hydroxyl groups of pFA could also occur. Furthermore, it was suggested that lignin phenolic hydroxyl oxygen could attack an opened furan ring to form several aryl ethers structures. Therefore, the LFA resin was produced through crosslinking between lignin fragments and pFA chains.

A City for Smart Technology Transformation

The main purpose of this chapter is to present how a smart city is governed, managed, and operated. It describes smart city governance and identifies the special relation the government of the city would have with the citizens as well as communities. In addition, governance considerations related to operations are described, including critical city government challenges. The second important topic in this chapter is the City-Citizens Relations highlighting urban growth, needed investments, and role of smart technologies in the city development. In addition, other issues include strategic goals of smart cities, strategic framework for city governments, and financing smart city projects.

ESTIMATION OF FINANCIAL STABILITY OF AGRARIAN ENTERPRISES IN UKRAINE

In this paper the system of factors influencing the formation of financial solvency was investigated, the financial sustainability of agricultural enterprises of Ukraine was evaluated, and an approach was developed to define and help ensure the financial sustainability of enterprises in the face of contemporary economic and market challenges. According to the research, the main principles for maintaining financial sustainability are: responsiveness to internal and external changes; governance systems; risk management; analysis of financial ratios; real assessment of the financial solvency of the enterprise; integration with the overall management system; orientation towards achieving the strategic goals of the enterprise; use of qualitative methods to inform financial decisions in the face of uncertainty and risk.

Energy policy and the energy market in the EU states: a retrospective view

The aim of the article is to present the most important goals in energy policy to be achieved in the near term in the context of sustainable development. The starting point for the analysis is the assessment of the condition of the energy sector, as goals and tasks result from a number of circumstances and conditions of the energy supply sector. The strategic goals of climate and energy policies presented in the study show the necessary challenges for the implementation of sustainable development within the analyzed sector, which is the driving force world economies.

Polityka bezpieczeństwa energetycznego Azerbejdżanu w regionie kaspijskim

In contemporary international relations, the energy security is becoming a key issue. Access to energy resources is the existential need of every state, conditioning its economic and social development. Interdependencies in the energy field are a key determinants of international relations, where the participants are not only states but also non-sovereign actors. The research problem of the study is the analysis of Azerbaijan's energy security policy priorities in the Caspian region. The main aim of the research is to present its interests, conditions and activities in the energy security policy dimension. Pipeline geopolitics and security threats influence the strategic goals of Azerbaijan's policy, a pioneer in the development of the energy sector in the Caspian region.

Algorithm for developing and implementing enterprise strategy

The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations and existing approaches to the process of developing an enterprise development strategy. It is established that the procedure of development and implementation of development strategy is a debatable issue among scientists, who determine different methodological approaches to the main stages of strategy development and implementation, components of this process, the relationship and interdependence between them. Based on the research, we propose to identify three stages of the strategy development process, combining 8 phases. The first stage - preparatory or analytical, includes a step-by-step comprehensive strategic analysis of the external and internal environment. The second stage defines the process of strategy development, which includes 4 phases: formulation of the mission; substantiation of strategic goals and determination of strategic gap; development of alternative strategies taking into account the limitations and possible risks, identification of promising and priority areas of development; choice of development strategy. The third stage - the realization of the strategy combines the stages of implementation of the strategy, its evaluation, and adjustment in accordance with unforeseen changes in the external environment. The defined stages of strategy development characterize the current state of the object, the forecasted goals of its development, and actions to achieve them. An important stage in developing a strategy is analytical. It determines the internal state of the system and its necessary changes, in accordance with the projected changes in the external environment, to achieve certain strategic goals. In general, the strategic development of the enterprise is a continuous process of formation and implementation of management decisions aimed at ensuring the strategic dynamism and effective operation in conditions of increased complexity and unpredictability of the business environment.

Government support measures: an effective choice process

The article discusses issues related to the ability of industrial enterprises to navigate the existing range of government support measures and make their effective choice. The author proposes an algorithm that will allow enterprises, after analyzing their strategic goals, to identify projects that allow them to implement priority areas for a particular enterprise and select the most effective measures of state support. The algorithm has been tested on the basis of support measures provided by the industrial development fund, practices for the successful implementation of support measures at industrial enterprises are given.