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This paper aims to propose an interpretive framework to understand how machine learning (ML) affects the way companies interact with their ecosystem and how the introduction of digital technologies affects the value co-creation (VCC) process.

This study bases on configuration theory, which entails two main methodological phases. In the first phase the authors define the theoretically-derived interpretive framework through a literature review. In the second phase the authors adopt a case study methodology to inductively analyze the theoretically-derived domains and their relationships within a configuration.

ML enables multi-directional knowledge flows among value co-creators and expands the scope of VCC beyond the boundaries of the firm-client relationship. However, it determines a substantive imbalance in knowledge management power among the actors involved in VCC. ML positively impacts value co-creators’ performance but also requires significant organizational changes. To benefit from VCC via ML, value co-creators must be aligned in terms of digital maturity.

The paper answers the call for more theoretical and empirical research on the impact of the introduction of Industry 4.0 technology in companies and their ecosystem. It intends to improve the understanding of how ML technology affects the determinants and the process of VCC by providing both a static and dynamic analysis of the topic.

International construction joint ventures (ICJVs) are an effective strategy for construction companies worldwide for delivering large and complex projects. Despite numerous ICJVs studies, there is a lack of comprehensive empirical examination of what drives ICJVs implementation. This study aims to investigate the key drivers for implementing ICJVs through an international survey.

Grounded on a comprehensive literature review and structured questionnaire survey, 123 ICJV experts' responses from 24 different countries/jurisdictions were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine any divergence of ranking of the drivers by the experts. Factor analysis (FA) was used to identify the clusters underlying the key drivers. Rank agreement analysis was later used to investigate the consensus between experts from developing and developed countries/jurisdictions on their ranking of the clusters.

Out of 34 factors, 26 factors greatly drive the implementation of ICJVs. Mann–Whitney U test results prove the absence of significant disparity among the experts in the ranking of the drivers. Six clusters were obtained through factor analysis (FA), namely, market-penetration and innovation-driven drivers, legal and market-driven drivers, fiscal incentives and market expansion drivers, personal branding drivers, sustainable advantage/power drivers and industrial and organizational promotion drivers. Rank agreement analysis exhibited varied levels of concurrence between professionals from developed and developing countries/jurisdictions.

The appreciation of the factors motivating ICJVs is beneficial to the successful implementation of ICJV strategies. A clear understanding of the drivers can help practitioners and policymakers to customize their ICJVs to reap the expected benefits.

The study has generated valuable insights into the factors that are greatly driving the implementation of ICJVs worldwide. While the findings of this study provide a profound contribution to theory and practice, it contributes to sustainable growth in different perspectives.

Coordinating interdependencies between concurrent activities is a special challenge in managing increasingly complex building services projects. Effective coordination at the pre‐installation stage is key to minimising field conflicts between building services systems. This study aims to investigate the significant causes of production shortcomings traceable to the pre‐installation stage, and to what extent these in turn probably contribute to higher volumes of construction debris.

Following relevant previous research and preliminary studies of production shortcomings in the building services subsector in Hong Kong, a series of structured interviews with practitioners were formulated and analysed. The findings lead to deductive reasoning in developing suitable approaches for this subsector.

The study reveals that “poor coordination among different trades and processes”, and “frequent design changes and/or errors” are seen as two of the major causes of production shortcomings in the pre‐installation stage. This paper proposes and discusses improvement strategies based on conceptual models of an “intra‐inter dependent teamwork concept”, a “dynamic coordination buffer” and a “BS coordination facilitator” in order to reduce the identified critical causes.

Although further research is needed, the findings in this paper can be a useful reference for other regions as the study methodology may be replicated.

In the search for solutions and improvements, a number of proven industrial management principles are incorporated in new conceptual models. These are expected to help alleviate the identified causes as critical design or related uncertainties are resolved through earlier coordination. This should in turn also reduce the volume of construction debris that can arise from current shortcomings in the pre‐installation stage of building services.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the perception of a contractor on early contractor involvement (ECI) type of construction project delivery approach in terms of its benefits and drawbacks.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on various professionals of a contractor, who had extensive experience of working in ECI.

The ECI approach increases the opportunity for better relationships among the parties, which assist the design process from contractor's input and eventually lead to successful delivery of the project. On the other hand, unequal commitment and lack of win‐win attitude between the parties are seen as the most important drawbacks that hinder integration in ECI approach. It is also observed that benefits from ECI are likely to outweigh the drawbacks.

Construction projects are different, requiring adjustments, even within generic procurement or delivery approaches, in order to build a harmonious team, to allow project participants to work together and deliver an improved project. This study contributes to devising and demonstrating such a strategy, focusing on ECI approach.

Over recent years there has been a significant drive away from traditional procurement routes where contractors find themselves with an increasing responsibility for the control of the design – a process they have had little experience in managing. Yet this is an area of significant opportunity for those contractors who can adapt quickly and effectively to the changing construction market. However, many current processes are insufficient to manage today's demanding and fast‐moving projects. This paper aims to address this issue

The paper reflects on the deployment of a design management training initiative to improve performance in a major UK civil and building design and construction company. It investigates the impact of the training initiative, critical practices and a suite of 25 tools on design management performance across the company. The methodology included a structured questionnaire, design management maturity assessment, semi‐structured interviews and a case study.

The paper highlights benefits delivered by the initiative as well as the practices and tools crucial to successful design management. A range of implementation barriers that affect the success of design management practices is also highlighted together with strategies used on a design and build project to overcome them.

The paper should be helpful to those involved in design management and the development of tools and practices to improve the performance of companies and project teams.

This chapter examines the debt aversion of a group of college students who have the opportunity to take out a sizable, low-interest, non-credit dependent loan. If the loan is simply invested in low-risk assets, it would effectively yield a free lunch in net interest earnings.

The research uses survey data to examine demographic, socio-economic, personality traits, and other characteristics of those willing and unwilling to accept the loan offer, as well as their intentions of early repayment.

Individuals willing to accept the loan tend to have prior debt, longer planning horizons, come from middle-income families, and may have higher cognitive ability. Anticipated early repayment of the loan is more likely among those with prior investments, no prior debt, from STEM majors, with upper income parents, and those who expect to buy a home soon.

We find no consistent relationships between debt aversion and intellectual ability or gender, but this finding may be hampered by our small sample of female loan-rejecters. Our limited sample size also precludes examining interactions between the dimensions of personality types.

We suggest consideration of policies to encourage “smart” borrowing, focusing on the financially disadvantaged, particularly for education loans. This study examines a uniquely occurring natural experiment regarding the opportunity to accept a non-credit dependent loan. Our results describe the behavior of young adults, an infrequently studied yet important segment of the population, especially in the context of borrowing behavior.

Do women exhibit greater financial risk aversion than men? We answer this question using attitudinal and behavioral specifications of risk aversion drawn from the 2010 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). To approximate attitudinal specification of risk aversion, we use individuals’ self-reported financial risk tolerance. We use individuals’ relative risk aversion, that is, the effect of wealth on the proportion of assets categorized as risky as behavioral specification of risk aversion. We find that while women display greater attitudinal risk aversion, gender difference in behavioral risk aversion depends upon individuals’ marital status and role in household finances. Single women exhibit greater behavioral risk aversion compared to single men. However, this gender difference does not exist when we compare behavioral risk aversion of married women and men in charge of household finances.

The goal of this work is to determine the nature and potential of the impact of the development of strategic alliances on the achievement of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the states.

The study is involved with the use of the universalisation method, statistical analysis method, trend-based method, simulation-based game approach and correlation analysis method. The values of estimated indicators have been determined through the use of these global rankings, identifying their level between 2018 and 2021 in the countries which rank among the leading countries in the field of development of strategic alliances (Malta, Canada, Sweden and Israel).

It has been established that sustainable economic development of strategic alliances scarcely ever has a positive impact on the achievement of the SDGs of the states. It has been established that such interaction is possible if these business entities observe certain terms ensuring the necessary development parameters of components of sustainable development. Conditions of the achievement of effect from the impact of business associations of these goals have been identified empirically.

It has been proven that such business associations as strategic alliances due to the range of their activity and the potential associated with it can act as economic institutions that complement the functions of the state towards the achievement of sustainable development milestones.

The academic novelty of this research is that it substantiates the potential to secure the impact of strategic alliances on the achievement of certain SDGs associated with the observance of certain organisational and economic conditions of strategic management.

Preferences of both Alzheimer patients and their spouse caregivers are related to a willingness-to-pay (WTP) measure which is used to test for the presence of mutual (rather than conventional unilateral) altruism.

Contingent valuation experiments were conducted in 2000–2002, involving 126 Alzheimer patients and their caregiving spouses living in the Zurich metropolitan area (Switzerland). WTP values for three hypothetical treatments of the demented patient were elicited. The treatment Stabilization prevents the worsening of the disease, bringing dementia to a standstill. Cure restores patient health to its original level. In No burden, dementia takes its normal course while caregiver’s burden is reduced to its level before the disease.

The three different types of therapies are reflected in different WTP values of both caregivers and patients, suggesting that moderate levels of Alzheimer’s disease still permit clear expression of preference. According to the WTP values found, patients do not rank Cure higher than No burden, implying that their preferences are entirely altruistic. Caregiving spouses rank Cure before Burden, reflecting less than perfect altruism which accounts for some 40 percent of their total WTP. Still, this constitutes evidence of mutual altruism.

The evidence suggests that WTP values reflect individuals’ preferences even in Alzheimer patients. The estimates suggest that an economically successful treatment should provide relief to caregivers, with its curative benefits being of secondary importance.