International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management
Volume:9 Issue: 3, Summer 2024

Crises of high uncertainty and complexity provoke discussion about new requirements of crisis management systems, which is of utmost importance in developing a cooperative environment and providing effective responses. This study aims to analyze the cooperative system of Tehran Municipality departments involved in crisis management of the COVID-19 pandemic, who are called actors afterward, and thereby presents the lessons learned through this pandemic. The Social network analysis has been applied in this research to analyze the collaboration system. Accordingly, the crisis management actions taken by Tehran Municipality is first explored and, 38 actors and 11 areas of knowledge are identified. The two-dimensional matrix of actors-actions and the cooperative system of the actors are then analyzed based on the indicators of degree and betweenness centrality in UCINET and NetDraw software to investigate the position of the actors' tacit knowledge power in the cooperative network. The actors’ cooperative system generally has high density and coherence; however, it seems that the position of some actors must be strengthened within the structure of the crisis management in Tehran Municipality. The results of degree centrality index identified 7 actors with higher degree centrality (20% of total actors), and 7 actors with lower degree centrality (20% of total actors). Moreover, the betweenness centrality of the network of actors is analyzed to find the highest and lowest betweenness power in the cooperative network. Afterward, a series of recommendations are proposed based on a designed systematic intervention. Moreover, a cooperative system of pandemic crisis management would be developed based on the key actors’ experiences and the lessons learned from failures.   Existing knowledge presents a valuable prospect for policy-makers in urban crisis management to not only establish an organizational cooperative system but also capitalize on the insights gained and contemplate pragmatic collective measures to enhance urban resilience in the face of pandemic crises.

 Malaysia's food and beverage industry provides a diverse range of regional and global cuisines, reflecting the country's diverse population. Profit, the development of new products, customer and employee satisfaction, and the sustainability of employee engagement have an impact on an organization's productivity. Positive attitudes towards green human resources management—which encompasses green hiring and selection, green training and development, and green remuneration and reward—are a sign of engaged employees. Businesses in this industry found it difficult to retain employees due to insufficient green hiring and selection procedures, inadequate training and development programs, and insufficient compensation and benefits. This research examines the relationship between green training and development, green recruitment and selection, and green compensation and reward for employee engagement and sustainability in the Malaysian food and beverage industry. For this investigation, the quantitative method was used to analyze information using IBM SPSS software version 26. The objective was to improve the industry's efficient functioning for long-term growth. A total of 210 surveys were distributed to Klang Valley workers in this industry using convenience sampling and a non-probability sampling approach. Taro Yamane's approach was used to calculate the sample size. Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where sample units are selected based on their accessibility to the researcher. As a result, all three variables - green training and development, green recruitment and selection, and green compensation and reward - have a positive and significant relationship with employee engagement sustainability. The hypotheses have been accepted with a p-value ranging from 0.000 to 0.236. In the case of hypothesis 1, there is a positive correlation (r = 0.760, p ≤ 0.01) between green training and development and employee engagement sustainability. Similarly, hypothesis 2 shows a positive correlation with a significant p-value of 0.236 between green recruitment and selection and employee engagement sustainability. Hypothesis 3 also indicates a significant correlation (r = 0.762, p ≤ 0.01) between green compensation and reward and employee engagement sustainability. The study provides empirical evidence and conceptual proof that the establishment and management of a fund designed to promote the development of human resources within a specific jurisdiction are governed by the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act of 2001. The interaction between this act and Green Human Resource Management may differ depending on the specific laws and policies of a country or region. Organizations can utilize funds from the Human Resource Development Corps to carry out projects related to Green Human Resource Management, such as eco-friendly training and development courses. Green Human Resource Management seeks to support environmental responsibility and sustainability initiatives.

Solar panels are always installed at an angle in which receive the maximum amount of energy. Small and even 1-degree changes in the angle of the installed panel have a significant impact on the annual energy received. The objective of this study was to study the evaluation of change in the sun's radiant energy on the surface perpendicular to the radiation during the day. Calculations of changes in the intensity of radiation on the surface of the panel are generally performed by assuming that the intensity of solar radiation is constant on the surface perpendicular to the radiation during the day (choosing the solar constant) and multiplying it by the cosine of the azimuth angle (which varies during the day). Since the sun's rays travel different lengths in the atmosphere at different times of the day, the intensity of the sun's radiation on the surface perpendicular to the radiation varies throughout the day. In this study, the effect of daily changes in the intensity of solar radiation on the surface perpendicular to the radiation, on the optimal angle of the solar panel has been investigated. The results showed that the daily optimal angle difference reported in this study compared to previous studies is more than 5 degrees in some cases. Also, installing the panel under the optimal daily angle (for day number 100) and the correct yearly angle resulted in receiving 128.56 kilowatts per square meter and 2.977 megawatts per square meter more energy, respectively. According to the results of this research, the annual optimal angle for a geographic latitude of 30 degrees, taking into account the changes in solar radiation energy on the surface perpendicular to the radiation, is 26 degrees, which is 4 degrees different from the geographic latitude. Also, the results show that if the panel is installed at an angle of 30 degrees, the energy received annually is 16.122 megawatts per square meter less than if the panel is installed at an angle of 26 degrees.

The nation's urban sector has experienced significant changes since industrialization, both in terms of growth and improvement in terms of creating jobs and the depletion of natural resources. The development and destruction are commendable and need mention and attention. These days, issues such as environmental degradation, the wealth gap, and unequal access to opportunities and resources are increasing. These concerns have increased the need for urban management through sustainable and planned development. The development cannot be sustained unless the depletion is controlled and taken care of. The current study focused on how urban regions have changed and how sustainable development helps cope with the changes. Furthermore, the study focused on enhancing the well-being of urban communities and promoting inclusivity to develop sustainable businesses that are economically sustainable in the long run. The novelty of the study is that explores how sustainable development can mitigate the impacts of urban change and enhance community well-being and inclusivity. Quantitative methodologies, such as surveys and statistical analyses, may have shed light on the broader impact of sustainable business practices on urban development. To complement these findings, qualitative case studies and interviews could have fostered deeper insights into specific initiatives and the perspectives of entrepreneurs navigating this landscape. A mixed-methods approach, weaving together quantitative trends with rich qualitative narratives, would have further enriched the understanding of motivations and challenges encountered. Ultimately, regardless of the specific methodologies employed, this research likely aimed to achieve a holistic understanding of the intricate connections between urban management, sustainable business practices, and the innovative spirit of entrepreneurs driving change in India. In this study, the researcher used regression analysis and factor analysis to achieve the research objectives.The entrepreneurs examined in the study exhibited a proactive stance towards critical aspects of sustainable business, notably waste management, energy efficiency, and resource optimization. The study identifies significant associations between key variables and sustainable urban development. Urban management demonstrates a positive impact (B = 1.286, SE = 0.621, Beta = 0.116, T = 2.071, P = 0.0039), highlighting its crucial role in shaping sustainable practices. Sustainable practices, in turn, exhibit a strong positive correlation (B = 1.088, SE = 0.257, Beta = 0.238, T = 4.242, P = 0.0001), indicating their pivotal role in driving urban development towards sustainability. These findings underscore the importance of integrating effective urban management strategies and sustainable practices to foster inclusive and resilient urban communities. The findings provide the government with all the criteria essential for a valid approach to the sustainable development of the urban regions of the country and provide the appropriate balance between growth and development. The researcher recommended that creating supportive policies and incentives, investing in green infrastructure, supporting local entrepreneurship ecosystems, collecting and sharing data, and promoting community engagement are requirements for urban management. In addition, recommended that focusing on triple bottom line impact, collaborating with other stakeholders, Innovating and adapting, communicating transparently, and advocating for change are required for Sustainable Businesses by Entrepreneurs.

Knowledge workers are people whose work is highlighted by the continuous and systematic development of organizational knowledge through the discovery mechanism and creation of new knowledge. The number of knowledge workers is increasing in today’s organizations, and proper conditions must be provided for their activities. Also, effective use of knowledge workers requires optimal psychological safety for them. So far, not so many studies have investigated psychological safety, especially for knowledge workers, and there is an obvious research gap in this field. Therefore, the innovation of this research is to increase knowledge about the psychological safety of knowledge workers and to create local and practical knowledge in the mentioned field.

This research aims to design a psychological safety model for knowledge workers in the Tehran Municipality. The applied-developmental purpose aspect of this research puts it in the category of mixed (method) research. In the qualitative phase, a semi-structured method of interviewing experts, and thematic analysis techniques were used to design the research model. 18 experts from Tehran Municipality were purposefully selected to participate in the interviews. The model of the research was validated by structural equation modeling and Smart PLS software in the quantitative phase. For this purpose, 110 managers and specialists of Tehran Municipality were surveyed using a questionnaire.

The results indicated that the personal, interpersonal, occupational, managerial, organizational, and spiritual dimensions are 6 dimensions that influence the psychological safety of knowledge workers in organizations. Also, several antecedents, moderating factors, and consequences were identified, which were created based on the identified variables of the research model. Also, the coefficient of determination was calculated as 0.740 for the psychological safety variable and 0.711 for the outcomes variable, based on the results of structural equation modeling, which indicates optimal values.

Ultimately, the results of the research indicated that the psychological safety of knowledge workers is a complicated, multidimensional, and a dynamic phenomenon, and achieving it requires considering several factors and components, and of course, it brings valuable results.

Social and economic processes, which create a combination of capital and intelligence, influence the development of the urbanization process. Urban areas develop together with economic growth. The main factor influencing the growth of the economy is the increase in production, which should be based on quality management through the implementation of a business model for the innovative development of the enterprise in the context of economic security. Thus, the purpose of the research is to define and characterize the components of the business model of an enterprise’s innovative development based on economic security and to describe the main practical aspects of its implementation. Using general scientific and special research methods, the theoretical and categorical content was analyzed and specified, namely, the essence of urbanization, innovative activity, innovative development, and business models of the enterprise’s innovative development were revealed. The main principles contributing to the effective operation of innovative enterprises were defined. It was substantiated that strategic business development provided a business model in which all business processes were identified and analyzed, and development was optimized considering correlations. The main features of the business reflected in the business model were specified. Considering that during the implementation of the innovative development strategy, the business model is aimed at managing the chain of innovative value creation, the basic background for the implementation of the business model was determined. To form a model of innovative development in the context of economic security, the aspects of adaptability of innovative development were investigated. The business model of the enterprise’s innovative development in the context of economic security was formed, and its components and their significance were determined. The main practical aspects for implementing the business model of the enterprise’s innovative development were highlighted. It was noted that in the conditions of a dynamic market environment, full of dangers and threats, 40% of the success of further implementation should be based on taking into account well-known theoretical and methodological aspects, and 60% should be the ingenuity of the personnel of the enterprise on which the business model is being formed. The business model ensures the transformation of innovative technologies into economic benefits for the company. The practical application of the proposed business model with selected components would contribute to the increase of the enterprise’s innovative potential and its development during current activity and in the future.

The concept of familiarity (taarof) is one underlying concept of an Islamic city, which has received less attention. Adherence to this concept that is adopted from Quranic teachings has a considerable influence on the neighboring or neighborhood concept. However, the evolutions in the contemporary Iranian community have left this concept in serious challenges over recent decades, causing underlying developments in the concept of neighborhood. This study investigates the advent of challenges threatening the familiarity concept in terms of evolutions in the contemporary history of Iran, particularly in terms of the contemporary political economy of Iran to find how these changes and developments in the political economy have threatened and weakened the concept of familiarity in contemporary Iranian city. This study is based on the library-documentary method in terms of data collection, and is based on the logical reason in terms of data analysis and judgment. Logical reasoning encompasses a wide spectrum from computer programs and formulas to cultural discourses and theses, and this study comprises the cultural discourse extreme of this spectrum. According to the results of this study, some political economy developments in the contemporary history of Iran, including land reforms, municipalities income generation system, injecting the oil revenue into metropolises, and lack of adherence to principles of land-use planning have led to the advent of the concept of displacement (or relocation) and permanent population changes and migration from rural to urban areas or inside the urban areas (especially in metropolises). Subsequently, such severe population changes have resulted in a weakened concept of familiarity threatening the neighborhood concept. The most important requirement for deepening neighboring relationships and stabilizing the concept of familiarity in the contemporary Iranian city is revising macro-policies of political economy to stabilize the citizens’ settlement in the place they are living by adopting appropriate policies, so this stabilization would lead to longer neighboring relations and deepen the familiarity and familiarity between neighbors. In this case, the issue of displacement can be somewhat solved, and the social harms caused by the weak concept of familiarity can be eliminated in contemporary Iranian cities.

One of the "15 Guiding Principles" designed to achieve the 2030 aim highlights the importance of giving priority to exploration in the digital economy as a crucial element in defining the future economy. Consumers’ interest in using social media and e-commerce platforms for their shopping activities is rising in this day of modern technology. However, based on a study conducted by the Small Medium Enterprise Corporation indicated that a substantial majority of Small and medium enterprise entrepreneurs, acknowledge the importance of incorporating digital technology into their fundamental business operations. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable discrepancy between the level of awareness regarding these technologies and their actual adoption. Therefore, the research objectives are to determine the relationship between perceived convenience, E-promotion, brand awareness, and personalization toward consumers’ purchase intention. Data was collected from a wide range of individuals in urban areas using probability sampling methods. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that can impact individuals' intentions. A sample size of 385 participants from the e-commerce sector in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Therefore, stratified sampling is employed by considering pertinent characteristics such as location, age, and intention to use e-commerce. The analyses were conducted using SmartPLS software to measure the influence of digital marketing on consumers' purchase intention. The variables of E-Promotion (β=6.601, p<0.05), Brand awareness (β=3.975, p<0.05), and Personalization (β=4.152, p<0.05) had a statistically significant impact on Customer Purchase Intention. Nevertheless, the variable of Perceived Convenience does not have a significant impact on Purchase Intention (β=1.646, p<0.05). Consequently, e-promotion was deemed the most influential component, followed by personalization in second place, and brand awareness in third place. The findings are expected to assist businesses in identifying the factors that influence the purchase intentions of urban consumers on an e-commerce platform. These encompass micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which serve as the foundation of Malaysia's economic development. The process of digitalization is anticipated to enhance opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and flourish. The potential of digitalization to enhance integration across economic sectors and promote cost effectiveness through a collaborative economy is evident. This aligns with the goals stated in the My Digital Economic Blueprint, which is scheduled to be implemented until 2030.

Peri-urban land development is crucial to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of equitable and sustainable urban areas. Fair land, infrastructure, and resource management improves land management services and reduces social and economic inequities. However, the peri-urban land management system has contributed to unequal rapid urbanisation in neighbouring regions. This study examines the complex relationships between peri-urban land development barriers in India. The goal is to understand how these barriers induce unequal urbanization transcending the city, resulting in uncontrolled growth, urban sprawl, and inadequate services in peri-urban areas. The main goal is to improve decision-making and promote fair peri-urban growth in Indian cities using a multi-criteria decision-making tool. This application gives experts a new perspective on peri-urban issues. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted from 122 planners and academicians from north Indian cities using snowball sampling techniques. The study collects expert perspectives to create a causal map, using DEMATEL ISM method, classifying these barriers as "determinants or causes," "dependent barriers," "independent barriers," and "effects," presenting a new perspective on peri-urban development complexity.  that depicts these roadblocks and highlights the most significant drivers impeding peri-urban land development. Findings revealed four interdependent challenges as the leading ‘causes’ on the basis of DEMATEL Weight; Imprecise spatial policies with 0.10119, undemarcated land boundaries with 0.10082, weak institutions with 0.10003, and absence of planning regulations with 0.09945 weight. Within these barriers, addressing the governance capability and spatial policies would have a beneficial cascading effect on catering to other challenges. Findings have valuable insights for policymakers, aiding in the formulation and prioritization of effective policies and resource allocation. This study extensive analysis of causal linkages among Indian city peri-urban land development challenges. Beyond identifying barriers, it explains their causes, interdependencies, and hierarchical links. This study's holistic approach to peri-urban development issues and inventive barrier categorization and prioritisation make it distinctive.

The escalating global population, coupled with increased transportation needs and car production, has led to a surge in waste tire generation, reaching billions annually. Recognizing the environmental impact, there's a growing focus on utilizing waste tires as secondary raw materials and energy sources. Despite challenges posed by tire resilience and resistance to degradation, the current study advocates for pyrolysis as an eco-friendly method to recycle tires. It explores key process parameters (temperature and residence time) in pyrolysis, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative analyses of resulting oils compared to other products. The goal is to contribute to sustainable tire waste management and resource recovery. The study employed Thermogravimetric analysis for rubber's thermal characteristics, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for pyrolysis oil analysis, Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis using a VARIAN CP-3800 instrument, and a bomb calorimeter (Parr 1256) for measuring heat capacity in obtained oils. The yields of pyrolysis oil, char and gas were 20–32.5, 45-60 and 5-30 wt.%, respectively. The Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis results were ranged from 5-20 that showed that pyrolysis oils consisted mainly of 2,3-dimethylbutene, 2-Methylbutene, t-Isobutyl-4-ethyl-benzene, and 1-m-4-Isopropyl-benzene. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy showed that increasing of aromatic component with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Measuring of highest calorific value of pyrolysis oil was 10309 Cal/g that showed good compatibility with commercial heating oils. Pyrolysis oils from waste tires exhibit calorific values comparable to commercial heating oils, suggesting a promising alternative fuel source with versatile compositions. The findings help understanding the feasibility and potential applications of waste tire pyrolysis in sustainable energy solutions.

Currently, 56% of the global population, reside in cities, and this urbanization trend is predicted to result in a more than doubling of the urban population by 2050. Similarly, mid-sized Indian cities have exhibited rapid urban growth in recent decades. However, a holistic study focusing on the temporal dynamics of urban growth in all the mid-sized Indian cities is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the urban growth pattern across eighty-eight mid-sized Indian cities with the help of Census data from 1971-2011. This research, utilizing a quantitative approach, investigates the relationship between economic growth and urban expansion in selected cities. The cities are categorized based on the Gross State Domestic Product of respective states, and the study evaluates changes in municipal areas and demographic growth patterns through the decadal urban expansion rate and decadal population growth rate. The urban growth character is further analyzed by dividing the population growth rate by the decadal urban expansion rate, with a value less than 1 indicating inefficient land utilization. This comprehensive methodology aims to provide insights into the dynamics of urban growth and its correlation with economic development. The results revealed that inefficient land utilization for urban growth during 1971-2011 had occurred in thirteen cities from the states with higher Gross State Domestic Product and three cities among the states with lower Gross State Domestic Product. Overall, the mid-sized Indian cities, such as Ajmer (0.65), Solapur (0.67), Asansol (0.79), Mangalore (0.83), Jhansi (0.84), Nellore (0.85), Belgaum (0.86), Thrissur (0.86), and Bareilly (0.89) exhibited the lowest PU values during 1971-2011.The major drivers for urban growth in mid-sized Indian cities are government policies and schemes, industrial growth, rise in Gross State Domestic Product, climatic conditions and terrains, social profile, transportation, and infrastructure. Overall, there has been inefficient land utilization in several cities, particularly those from states with varying levels of Gross State Domestic Product. Noteworthy cities like Ajmer, Solapur, and Belgaum consistently demonstrated efficient land utilization, reflected in their lower Population-to-Urban Expansion (PU) values. The study emphasizes the intricate influences shaping urban growth, encompassing government policies, industrial development, economic factors, climate, social dynamics, and infrastructure. Future research endeavors could further delve into the specific impact of these factors on urban expansion, employing longitudinal analyses, and explore the socio-economic ramifications of efficient or inefficient land utilization, contributing to more informed urban planning and policy formulation.

The six sigma is a common methodology that has applied successfully in many organizations leading to sustainable performance improvements in products and services. However, the applied methodologies have not pay attention to Multi Criteria Decision Making models, clustering algorithm and Balance scorecard model. The purpose of this model is to apply the six-sigma methodology in Tehran Municipality and show how the Balance scorecard model, clustering algorithm, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution can be applied in the methodology. Define, Measure, Analysis, Improvement and Control as a common methodology of six sigma is applied in Tehran Municipality. Several unique elements that are exist in Tehran Municipality are identified and categorized based on the Balance scorecard model into indexes, goals and perspectives. Also, Analytic Hierarchy Process for weight extraction and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution for ranking are applied. The improvement strategies are created based on the six sigma tolerances. The findings show that the methodology can be elevated by Balance scorecard, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. This formulation is done and applied in Tehran Municipality and can be used in other organizations for conducting improvement strategies. Based on the arbitrary data, the best district of Tehran city is district 9 by 89.75% and the worst is district 18 by 10.12% score. Also, Wards and K-mean clustering algorithms and six sigma control limits are used to cluster the districts into superior, somehow superior, moderate, somehow inferior and inferior clusters based on their performance.   This manuscript helps to understand the way of integration the methodology, Balance scorecard, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and six sigma tolerances for sustainable improvement of Tehran Municipality. The proposed formulation can be used in any organization to reach to sustainable improvement.