International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Freshwater is a scarce resource, constituting only 2.5% of Earth's total water. Approximately 90% of freshwater is concentrated near the South Pole of the Antarctic Circle, exacerbating its scarcity for living organisms. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, food production, and agriculture rely heavily on monthly freshwater supplies for their operations. Proper disposal of wastewater from these sectors is imperative to meet environmental standards. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of reverse osmosis systems in treating well water for human consumption, examine the possibility of reusing reverse osmosis treated wastewater, and assess the feasibility of reducing freshwater consumption and wastewater generation.
METHODS: The study used the qualitative and quantitative data obtained in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 from the manufacturing industry in Guayama, Puerto Rico. Statistical analysis was confidently conducted using the Paired T-Test and Pearson correlation tests, with Minitab Statistical Software (Version 21.1.0) utilized for statistical analysis.
FINDINGS: The results of this study showed that reverse osmosis is an effective system for treating well water for human use and enabling the reuse of wastewater after treatment. A total of 2,397,000 gallons of wastewater were treated and reused for cooling towers and boilers, representing the same amount of freshwater conserved and wastewater not discharged into the sewer system. The metrics analyzed were total organic carbon, conductivity, nitrate levels, and total aerobic microbial population. Total organic carbon in the samples ranged from 3 to 29 ppb. Conductivity was between 0.3 μS/CM and 1.0 μS/CM. Nitrate levels were all under 0.2 ppm (0.2 mg/l). Total aerobic bacteria counts were 0 cfu per milliliter. Regarding the feasibility of reusing wastewater post-reverse osmosis treatment, the findings showed decreased levels of anions and cations in the treated wastewater. Additionally, all reverse osmosis-treated well water samples tested in 2022 met the quality control laboratory criteria.
CONCLUSION: The study confirms that the reverse osmosis system effectively purifies well water for human use and demonstrates the potential for repurposing treated wastewater. Furthermore, 2,397,000 gallons of treated wastewater were repurposed for cooling towers and boilers, conserving freshwater resources, and preventing the discharge of an equivalent volume of wastewater into the sewer system.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The gap between urban planning and its implementation in cities has led to the evaluation of urban plans which heightens the efficiency of plans. This research evaluates the dissimilarities between the city’s reality and planned prospects.
METHODS: To assess that, the Delphi technique was utilized to determine the criteria then Geographic Information System and quantitative models namely Mean Center, Standard Deviational Ellipse, and Planning Implementation Rate were employed.
FINDINGS: The outcomes reveal that Mashhad’s direction of urban development corresponds to the master plan. The second estimated alternative for the population (with 83.52%) has a high level of conformity. On the subject of land use, conforming and non-conforming uses account for 47% and 23.80% respectively. A preponderance of non-conforming uses is in the south-to-east, north, and northwest parts of the city, and zone 7 accommodates the highest area of non-conforming uses among other zones. The implementation rate is 94.7%, showing that the current urban forms were implemented following the master plan to a large extent. However, the construction outside the city’s limit is not under regulation. Three areas with high density located in the west, northwest, and east (Bahonar town) have the highest level of non-conformity.
CONCLUSION: The master plan could not achieve its street network goal due to an approximately 58% mismatch with the existing network. As a result, the conflicts in spatial findings could have been shaped by the implementation or inattention to planning regulations.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cohesion is one of the most important factors in the sustainability of social relationships and organizational success. Evidence shows that many companies and organizations have failed or disappeared due to a lack of cohesion among their employees. For this reason, it is important to identify the factors that affect the convergence of individuals and strengthen the cohesion among them. The primary focus of this study revolves around the question of whether group cohesion can be enhanced through the utilization of a collective decision-making approach. Collective decision-making is about reaching a single decision by the group members. This research assesses the correlation between common rationality (as a basis for decision-making), collective decision-making, and cohesion.
METHODS: To achieve the research purpose, a conceptual model is designed using the research background and interviews with experts, and then the structural equation method is used to achieve the research objectives, and Smart PLS 2.0 software is used to analyze the data. In this study, the concept of common rationality is examined as an exogenous factor, while cohesion is viewed as an endogenous factor, and collective decision-making is regarded as a mediating factor. To analyze the interplay among these factors, it is essential to assess the P-value, T-value, and regression coefficient, which are determined using structural equation modeling.
FINDINGS:  The goodness of fit is employed to assess the overall model fit, which is obtained as 0.469, and this criterion indicates that the overall model fit of the research model is appropriate.
The regression coefficient between the variables “common rationality → collective decision-making” is 0.668, and between the variables, “collective decision-making → cohesion” is 0.550, which shows a significant positive relationship between these variables. However, the regression coefficient between the variables “common rationality → cohesion” is 0.234, which indicates a weak relationship between these two variables. The findings suggest that common rationality has an impact on group cohesion by way of the intermediary factor of collective decision-making.
CONCLUSION: Although common rationality is a significant asset for an organization and society, managers and governors who want to use it to increase cohesion must activate it through collective decision-making. By engaging diverse perspectives, enhancing communication, and developing collective skills, they can create environments where shared understanding and cohesive action thrive. This study can encourage managers and governors to use the collective decision-making method in their choices.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the impact of demographic factors and skill enhancements on salary increments at Guangzhou Wangming Water Joy Design Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese company in the water park equipment sector using Light-Resin Transfer Molding technology. It aims to propose targeted strategies for boosting employee welfare and enhancing the company's competitive edge and organizational success.
METHODS: Employing a quantitative descriptive research approach, the study collected data through survey questionnaires from 224 employees, including 196 teachers and 28 supervisors. The analysis involved calculating percentages and frequencies to describe respondent demographics and using weighted means to assess factors influencing salary increments and employee welfare.
FINDINGS: Founded in 2006 and now operating in over 30 countries, the company demonstrates a significant global presence. Workforce analysis revealed a predominantly male demographic (63.33%) and a significant concentration of employees aged 36-45 years (83.33%), indicative of a mature and experienced employee base. Crucially, skill enhancement correlated strongly with salary progression, and structured professional development was linked to high employee satisfaction. Key measures included a mean satisfaction rating of 4.15 for work-life balance initiatives and a mean effectiveness rating of 4.20 for training programs.
CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, it is recommended that the company integrate historical narratives into employee training programs to foster organizational pride and loyalty. Furthermore, expanding diversity and inclusion efforts, emphasizing continuous learning, enhancing welfare programs, and instituting adaptive feedback mechanisms are essential for addressing the complexities of employee demographics and improving salary increment practices. These strategies are vital for promoting employee welfare and reinforcing the company's competitive stance in the global market.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Workplace deviant behavior, as a manifestation of employee conduct, can exert adverse effects on an organization, posing challenges to its overall functioning and well-being. Understanding the underlying mechanism is essential in offering insights to enhance risk mitigation and promote a positive organizational culture for sustained success. Therefore, the study on workplace deviant behavior is important because it addresses both practical and theoretical concerns crucial for organizations' functioning and success. Additionally, it helps in understanding the dynamics of employee behavior, developing effective management strategies, and promoting a productive and ethical workplace environment. The novelty and originality of this research lie in its integration of these three variables to understand their combined impact on workplace deviant behavior. This approach provides a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to deviant behavior, allowing for more effective mitigation strategies.
METHODS: This study aims to examine the impact of employee personality, organizational culture, and perceived organizational support on workplace deviant behavior among 370 employees at Human Development Agencies in Indonesia. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26.
FINDINGS: The results showed a significant negative correlation between employee personality traits, such as extraversion (t-value = -2.400, ρ-value = 0.019, ρ < 0.05) and agreeableness (t-value = -2.170, ρ-value = 0.034, ρ < 0.05), and organizational culture (t-value = -2.386, ρ-value = 0.020, ρ < 0.05). However, perceived organizational support only moderates organizational culture's influence on workplace deviant behavior, not employee personality traits. The study suggests strategies to prevent and mitigate its negative effects on organizations.
CONCLUSION: The study recommends the implementation of conducive policies and practices to efficiently handle these behaviors. Moreover, this study enhances comprehension of workplace deviant behavior and provides pragmatic suggestions for effectively managing and averting such conduct within organizations. This highlights the significance of creating supportive policies and practices that specifically address organizational culture and support mechanisms to effectively reduce workplace deviant behavior.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Urban studies, as a field of research, often encounter a certain strictness in determining precise concept definitions. This latter represents the epistemological underpinnings which are considered as the base of their theoretical foundation. Such difficulty in pinpointing an accurate definition is particularly evident in the varying terminology used to describe urban phenomena, ranging from terms like “mutation”, “change”, “transformation”, “gentrification”, and “transition”. Each term carries its own nuances and implications, reflecting the diverse perspectives within the field. In this context, the primary objective of this paper is to evaluate scientific publications within the realm of urban studies to conduct a comprehensive analysis, assessing the frequency and contextual significance of the aforementioned terms in articles about urban mutations. 
METHODS: The article framework involved conducting a bibliometric review of the literature using the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” framework. The first 5595 documents were identified in the Scopus database. After a process of inclusion and exclusion, only 1768 articles spanning from 1981 to 2023 were extracted. These data were then processed using CiteSpace to analyze cooperative networks. This analysis encompasses three key dimensions: Citation, Co-citation, and Co-occurrence.
FINDINGS: Few authors used bibliometrics to address urban mutations comprising only 32 articles, published between 2016 and 2023. The citation analysis revealed Salvati Luca as the most co-cited author, and the United Kingdom as a top contributing country with 287 citations and a centrality value of 0.35. Furthermore, the co-citation analysis ranked the cluster labeled “Urban Change” at the top with 501 citations and 0.917 for silhouette. Meanwhile, the most frequently co-cited journal is “Urban Studies”, boasting 602 co-citations. For the co-occurrences, the term “Urban Change” ranked second in strength burst (35.13), and first in centrality (0.41). The term “Urban Transformation” holds the 19^th position with a centrality score of 0.05. However, this latter ranks 3^rd in the classification by citation (384). “Urban Change”, then, comes in at the 5^th position with 211 citations. The term “Urban Mutation” did not appear in any analysis. “Urban Change” and “Urban Transformation” stand out as the most commonly used. Most references are cited in English.
CONCLUSION: Scientometric analysis is essential for identifying potential correlations within the literature. This helps urban studies utilize discipline-specific terminology, thereby ensuring the rigor and integrity of its concepts. Moreover, this study could be used for other comparisons with different databases, such as Web of Science, Dimensions, and PubMed

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neighborhoods’ public realms get their sustainability from the presence of residents but the COVID-19 pandemic restricted the attendance of people. Hence, in light of the social capital paradigm may be revitalized the public realms. Adopting the approach of social capital and its components namely: social interaction, social participation, and spatial equity can improve the socio-physical characteristics of public realms during the outbreak of COVID-19. The extant study was conducted to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on public realms of neighborhoods from the point of view of architecture and urbanism experts based on the components of social capital. This study aims to achieve strategies for planning and designing public realms by considering the COVID-19 condition, through which public spaces can be promoted in socio-physical dimensions.
METHODS: This research was quantitative with an inferential approach. The evaluation of 128 different nation scholars has been analyzed with an inferential approach and exploited LISREL8.8 and SPSS23 for their analysis.
FINDINGS: Findings indicate that the indicators of social interaction (Sig. <0.359) and spatial equity (Sig. <0.174) from most experts' views have the same structure and have a significant impact on the public realms of neighborhoods according to the pandemic. Moreover, there is a substantial difference in the social participation (Sig. >0.022) indicators between the two groups of experts.
CONCLUSION: Re-programming activity and restructuring physical (social interaction) developing and expanding green and open spaces and physical and functional flexibility (spatial equity) are the most important indicators for promoting public realms.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Noise pollution is an environmental stressor that is mainly caused due to heavy transportation in urban scenarios. Traffic noise is a growing concern in urban environments, impacting public health and well-being. As urbanization expands, understanding and mitigating traffic-induced noise annoyance becomes increasingly critical. This study aimed to develop a machine-learning model for predicting traffic-induced noise annoyance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The research explored the influence of factors like demographics, noise characteristics, and traffic conditions on noise annoyance.
METHODS: A survey was conducted at 21 locations in Riyadh, collecting data from 928 participants. The survey included questions on demographics (gender, age, education, marital status, profession), traffic conditions (traffic flow), and noise perception (transportation noise, noise sensitivity, perceived noisiness). The sampling method employed was a combination of stratified and random sampling. Stratified sampling was used to ensure that various demographic segments (e.g., different age groups, genders, and education levels) were proportionately represented in the survey. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the collected data and identify factors significantly affecting noise annoyance. These significant factors were then used as input variables for a Support Vector Machine model designed to predict noise annoyance. The performance of the Support Vector Machine model was evaluated using Root Mean Square Error, Mean Absolute Error, and R-squared.
FINDINGS: The Structural Equation Model analysis revealed that gender, age, education level, traffic flow, noise from traffic, and individual noise sensitivity were significant contributors to noise annoyance. The developed Support Vector Machine model achieved a high level of accuracy with a root mean square error of 1.416 and a coefficient of determination of 0.90. Noise sensitivity emerged as the most crucial factor influencing noise annoyance.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of machine learning, specifically the Support Vector Machine, in predicting traffic-induced noise annoyance. The findings highlight the importance of both individual characteristics and environmental factors in noise perception and can be valuable for urban planning and noise mitigation strategies, promoting a more noise-resilient city environment. For the community, urban planners and policymakers can use these findings to design silent areas by implementing noise barriers, optimizing traffic flow, and enforcing stricter noise regulations.
 

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The management of human resources focusing on workplace happiness is gaining significant attention in the study of organizational behavior, particularly in organizations hiring Gen Z. This generation perceives workplace happiness differently, making the factor crucial in understanding work behavior. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the role of workplace happiness as a mediator between motivation and performance among employees in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in developing countries.
METHODS: The study adopted a survey design, obtaining data from 186 young workers across 23 MSMEs in developing countries. Path analysis was also used to test the proposed model.
FINDINGS: The first results in this study showed that motivation significantly affected happiness at work with a p-value of 0.000 below the specified significance level of ≤0.005 (5%). The second result also showed that motivation significantly influenced performance with a similar p-value of 0.000. The third result suggested that happiness at work exhibited a significant effect on performance with a p-value threshold. Finally, the study found that happiness at work mediated the relationship between motivation and performance as evidenced by a p-value of 0.000.
CONCLUSION: The study suggested that motivation positively affected happiness at work and further enhanced performance. Additionally, job satisfaction could serve as a mediator between motivation and performance. Cultivating a work environment that prioritizes teamwork, and mutual respect, as well as discourages self-serving behavior could further improve employee happiness, job satisfaction, and overall performance. This improvement would also benefit MSMEs by enhancing work quality and productivity.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The emotional expression of feelings and the satisfaction of social needs are two primary purposes of many communication interactions in an organization. As a universal aspect of human interaction, the apology has sparked great interest in its study across a wide range of disciplines. However, the human resources apology has not been involved integrally in the context of organizational communication. Therefore, the research question is, what are the dynamics of human resources apology in organizational communication in Iran?
METHODS: This was a qualitative study conducted using grounded theory. The research was conducted, and sampling was theoretical in municipalities in Iran. For data collection, semi-structured in-depth interviews with the 5W1H technique were conducted with 13 managers, who respond to citizens’ requests in the central building of municipalities in Iranian provinces. The researched community comprises human resource managers with at least five years of beneficial work experience in the municipality and relevant knowledge of apology. Targeted sampling has been done based on the researcher’s considerations.                                                         
FINDINGS: The analysis of the interviews resulted in a set of fundamental topics collected during the open coding process. Sixteen categories were extracted from these fundamental topics. Then, in the axial coding stage, the link between these categories was determined under the following headings causal conditions, core category, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences of human resources apology in the form of an axial coding paradigm. In the present study, data analysis was performed using ATLAS. ti software version 8 in three stages of primary, central, and selective coding, which resulted in the identification of 5 categories, 15 central concepts, and 126 final codes.
CONCLUSION: The developed process model provides a comprehensive understanding of the human resources apology process in municipalities in Iran. The study highlights the importance of conflict management, individual behavior, motivation, audience strength, acceptability, apology graph, apology method, audience identity, communication quality, patience, and incompatibility in the human resources apology process.
 

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A grasp of economic development is essential to comprehending policies and initiatives that support industrialization and the fight against poverty. It can assist in identifying areas for additional investment and growth and serve as a guide for planning, carrying out, and assessing economic development efforts. Bumiputera entrepreneurs encounter many obstacles to market accessibility, restricted financial means, and insufficient supplier networks, which may impede the expansion and prosperity of their businesses. The utilization of technology is essential in mitigating these shortcomings, allowing Bumiputera entrepreneurs to surmount obstacles and attain enduring prosperity in the aluminum sector. Entrepreneurs can create strong supplier networks, maximize the use of financial resources, and improve market access by utilizing technology. The purpose of this research is to examine how technology applications might mitigate the limitations of market access, financial resources, and supplier resources that impede the success of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the aluminum sector. The growth and profitability of Bumiputera businesses can be inhibited by several obstacles, including restricted supplier networks, insufficient financial resources, and difficulty accessing markets.
METHODS: The quantitative research approaches and methods can help provide a comprehensive understanding of the mediating effect of technology in enhancing market, finance, and supplier resource weaknesses for the success of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the aluminum industry. An explanatory research design is a type of research design that focuses on the variables that determine the mediating effect of relationships and explains the causes and effects of the variables defining the phenomenon to be studied. The data was analyzed using SMART PLS3. The study was conducted specifically on Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the aluminum industry. Data from the Bumiputera aluminum industry was gathered through purposive sampling. As a minimal 75 sample size, a total of 80 questionnaires were distributed to Bumiputera respondents who have been working in the Malaysian aluminum industry. As a response, a 93.75% rate was achieved, and we dedicated a week in May 2023 to data collection.
FINDINGS: Out of ten (10) hypotheses, only six (6) were valid, while the remaining four were ruled out. The recent high cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 have had an impact on them. The findings of this study contribute to the academic literature by highlighting the importance of technology in facilitating the success of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the aluminum sector.
CONCLUSION: The study empirically confirms and conceptually proves that the policies of industry associations and organizations (“Skim Jaminan Modal Kerja—Bumiputera”, the “Business Act 1956, and the Financial Procedure Act 1957) can advocate for policies that support Bumiputera entrepreneurs in accessing technology and improving their market access, financial resources, and supplier resources. The key technologies and strategies that help these entrepreneurs build thriving businesses offer recommendations for policymakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to support and promote success among this essential group of entrepreneurs. By lobbying for supportive policies, the industry can create an enabling environment for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to leverage technology effectively and overcome their weaknesses.
 

Abstract The adoption of sustainable development goals by the United Nations in 2015 has led to an increasing focus on sustainable development and green practices among academics and private industry professionals. This study aims to explore the research landscape of "Green Human Resource Management” and "sustainable development". Despite the increasing attention in recent years, the field remains in its infancy. To gain insights, five research questions were formulated and addressed using descriptive and network analyses. Applying descriptive statistics reveals that the fields of research on "sustainable development" and " Green Human Resource Management " encompass eight different subject areas, indicating the multifaceted and expansive nature of these subjects. Beyond 2020, a noteworthy rising trend in publications is noted. Having contributed 22 articles since the field's inception, the Journal of Cleaner Production stands out as a major publication source. Developing nations such as Malaysia, China, and India are leading in research contributions, indicating a strong inclination towards sustainable practices. Brazil stands out with the highest citation count, attributed to its significant environmental challenges. Network analysis identifies prominent themes and their interconnections. Thematic evolution analysis shows substantial growth in literature from 2015 to 2023, with organizational sustainable performance and supply chain management emerging as significant themes in recent years. Notably, authors Jabbour CJC, De Sousa Jabbour, and Latan H. are highlighted for their prolific contributions, particularly in the early stages of ``Green Human Resource Management’’ and ‘’sustainable development’’ literature. This study provides valuable insights for management professionals and researchers by highlighting influential articles, authors, sources, countries, and affiliations. It is a comprehensive reference for understanding the evolving landscape of Green Human Resource Management and sustainable development literature. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for continuous research and collaboration to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable business practices globally.