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Contractual new product introduction : framework for customer and service provider collaboration
Get PDFPURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to introduce a cooperative approach to Contractual
New Product Introduction (CNPI), a process by which outsourcing companies launch new
products on behalf of their customers. While new product development is widely covered in
existing literature, the specific context of outsourcing organisations and the contractual
introduction of new products has received limited attention. This research addresses this
gap, highlighting the strategic importance of CNPI in fostering long-term customer
relationships throughout the product life cycle.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study is based on a systematic literature review
combined with the authors’ extensive practical experience in outsourcing environments. The
research synthesises insights from both closely related and peripheral domains to form a
comprehensive understanding of CNPI. A conceptual model is proposed to guide
practitioners and researchers in structuring and executing the CNPI process effectively.FINDINGS: The paper identifies the need for a systematic framework tailored to CNPI and
presents a conceptual model that promotes customer-centred decision-making and
collaboration. It integrates all relevant phases—from concept design to production launchemphasising parallel workflows, continuous feedback loops, and cross-functional
cooperation. The model outlines how service providers can align their structures and
processes to meet future CNPI demands and improve business outcomes.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The proposed approach offers actionable guidance for outsourcing
companies, enabling them to streamline CNPI activities, reduce costs, and enhance
stakeholder collaboration. The framework clarifies deliverables at each stage and supports
more efficient execution of the new product introduction process. It also provides a
foundation for identifying and addressing potential stakeholder concerns related to phase
gate deliverables.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study is among the first to explore CNPI from the perspective of
outsourcing service providers with the customer as project initiator. The research delivers a
novel conceptual framework that bridges gaps in current literature and practice. It
contributes valuable insights into the organisational requirements and success factors
essential for next-generation CNPI processes.peer-reviewe
Raising the effective retirement age as a challenge for the Polish labour market
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of this article is to analyse the effective retirement age in Poland
compared to other countries and to present the necessary actions aimed at extending
professional activity in the context of solutions used in public policies of EU Member States.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study was prepared based on a critical review of
subject literature, analysis of source documents, including legal acts, and statistical data.
Comparative analysis tools were also used. Valuable information for international
comparisons was found in research reports of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD), Eurostat, or the European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working conditions (Eurofound), Poland’s Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).FINDINGS: The results show that Poland still belongs to the group of countries with a
relatively low effective retirement age, which may have a negative impact on the
sustainability of the pension system and the situation in the labour market. A comparison of
statistics shows that the effective retirement age increased in most EU countries between
2012 and 2023, and Poland remains one of the countries with the lowest average retirement
age. This is particularly evident for women, whose working lives are much shorter than in
the Scandinavian or Benelux countries. The analysis also showed that not only legal
conditions, but also health issues, the labour market situation and financial incentives are
important determinants of retirement decisions. The results of the research indicate that the
lack of coherent mechanisms to encourage longer professional activity remains an
important problem. Although the so-called zero-level PIT for seniors, introduced in 2022,
has contributed to increasing the number of people remaining in the labour market after
retirement age, its impact on the overall increase in the effective retirement age remains
limited. ZUS data show that most people retire immediately after obtaining rights, which
indicates the low effectiveness of the existing solutions. Comparison with other EU
countries suggests that effective strategies for increasing effective retirement age should
include not only financial incentives but also improving working conditions and developing
flexible forms of employment. A crucial factor in this context could be the implementation of
the concept of sustainable work, including the adaptation of the working environment to the
needs of older workers and the development of care facilities that could reduce the burden
of caring for family members.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A paper recommending future actions of decision-makers in the
field of retirement age, taking into account the Polish context. The results of the study
indicate an urgent need for reforms in the field of labour market policy and pension system,
aimed at effectively raising the retirement age in Poland. Further efforts are needed to
develop incentives to work longer, as well as to educate the public about the benefits of
delaying the decision to retire.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality of the conducted analysis of the level of effective
retirement age in Poland in comparison with other EU countries lies in providing important
conclusions regarding the challenges and opportunities for extending the working life of the
older population. This topic is crucial at a time of dynamic demographic change, with an
ageing population, a reduction in working potential, and the threat of inefficiencies in the
social security system and low pension provision.peer-reviewe
Quick fixes, lasting problems : rethinking obesity management through a public health lens beyond pharmacological solutions
Get PDFAim: This viewpoint aims to critically examine the growing reliance on pharmacological treatments for obesity
and highlight the limitations of such an approach.Data synthesis: Literature from reputable databases and public health registries were sought and used to formulate
an evidence-based viewpoint, critically synthesizing current research on obesity pharmacotherapy and its implications
within a broader socio-environmental context.Conclusions: In response to the obesity epidemic, pharmacological treatments have gained significant attention
for their ability to produce substantial weight loss in the short-term. However, the increasing reliance on these
medication risks narrowing the understanding, prevention and management of obesity to a purely clinical issue,
overlooking its deeper individual-level and societal causes. While pharmacological interventions may offer shortterm
benefits, they do not address the root causes of obesity, such as the socio-environmental drivers influencing
food choices with over-reliance on high-calorie and processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and socio-economic
disparities. Additionally, the high cost of these treatments exacerbates health inequities, limiting access for
vulnerable populations. Obesity must be approached as a complex, multifaceted condition, requiring multisectoral
approaches as well as integrated care models that combine pharmacological treatments with behavioural
interventions, lifestyle modifications, and systemic policy changes. Population-wide strategies are crucial for
long-term prevention. This viewpoint argues for comprehensive, multisectoral approaches to obesity prevention
and management that moves beyond pharmacological solutions to address the broader socio-environmental
factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. Only through systemic changes can we expect to improve public
health outcomes and reduce the global burden of obesity.peer-reviewe
The progressive emancipation of the female creature, from Mary Shelley's to John Logan's and Yorgos Lanthimos's
No full textA brief episode in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein, portraying the aborted creation of a new Eve, has proven to be a particularly fertile imaginative stimulus for writers and filmmakers. The novel's eponymous scientist, having agreed to create a female mate for his monster, reflects on the perils of such an enterprise and ends up destroying the female creature. Frankenstein's narrative reveals the singular violence and frenzy of her savage dismemberment "trembling with passion tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged", as well as his intense repulsion towards this monstrous entity: "the remains of the half-finished creature, whom I had destroyed, lay scattered on the floor, and I almost felt as if I had mangled the living flesh of a human being." The horrific obliteration of the female creature, before granting her a chance to exist, has been read as stemming from male anxieties surrounding the generative female who risks disrupting the patriarchal mythos of creation, as well as the sexually liberated female possessing an independent will. The vague allusiveness of this powerful episode, together with the novel's richly layered gender dimensions, has prompted a whole lineage of adaptations, which seek to unpack its ambiguity and its latent ideological charge. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
Prognostic models of non–surgical treatment outcomes for lumbar–related leg pain : a scoping review of systematic reviews
Get PDFPrognosis identifies a relationship between future
outcomes and a given health state. Prognostic factors
help estimate the likelihood of a particular outcome,
regardless of any specific intervention. The prognosis of
persons treated for lumbar–related leg pain (LRLP) varies
considerably. To the authors’ knowledge, no systematic
review (SR) has evaluated any formal combination of
multiple predictors (prognostic models) for non–surgical
interventions in this population. This scoping review
aimed to: (a) determine if SRs specifically evaluating
prognostic models of non–surgical interventions for
LRLP exist, and (b) identify prognostic models addressing
non–surgical interventions in LRLP within the SRs.
A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL,
and Epistemonikos was conducted in October 2024,
including SRs published from the year 2000 onwards.
References were hand–searched, and forward citation
searches were performed. The search identified 9,398
records after deduplication. Following screening, the
full texts of 18 SRs were evaluated against the eligibility criteria. The lack of SRs in this area highlights a critical
gap in understanding the prognostic models for non–
surgical interventions in LRLP. Three reviews reported
two primary studies that had derived and/or evaluated
prognostic models in cohorts that met the threshold
set for this scoping review, with 80% of participants
experiencing LRLP. This scoping review highlights a
gap in the SR literature evaluating specific prognostic
models for non–surgical interventions in individuals
with LRLP even though various prognostic models for
LRLP exist. This underlines the need for a dedicated SR
to consolidate evidence and guide clinical practice in the
non–surgical management of LRLP.peer-reviewe
A theory of (linear-time) timed monitors
Get PDFSupplementary Materials:Software https://zenodo.org/records/15362670Software (ECOOP 2025 Artifact Evaluation approved artifact) https://doi.org/10.4230/DARTS.11.2.8Runtime Verification (RV) is gaining popularity due to its scalability and ability to analyse block-box systems. Monitoring is at the heart of RV; a logical formula ϕ, formalising some property of interest, is typically translated into a monitor that checks whether the system under scrutiny satisfies ϕ during its execution. A logical formula ϕ is violation (resp. satisfaction) monitorable iff there exists a monitor for ϕ that is both sound and complete w.r.t. its violation (resp. satisfaction). The monitorability problem is thus concerned with determining the largest subset of a logic L that is monitorable. Although this problem has been solved for expressive untimed logics, it remains open for timed logics, where formulae can express both the order of events and the quantity of time separating them. This paper solves the monitorability problem for Tlin, a new expressive (linear-time) timed µ-calculus that we propose. First, we show that Tlin is strictly more expressive than MTL, the de facto timed extension of LTL. Second, we identify MTlin, the largest monitorable fragment of Tlin: we characterise its largest subsets of formulae that are violation monitorable, satisfaction monitorable, and complete monitorable (both satisfaction and violation monitorable). To wit, this is the first work that answers the monitorability question for such an expressive timed logic.peer-reviewe
Exploring refugees’ survival and coping mechanisms within the framework of migrant integration and Malta’s immigration policy
Get PDFRefugees in Malta face a variety of challenges, particularly in terms of social and economic integration, including discrimination, language barriers, and difficulties in finding employment. In addition to relying on their own resilience and determination to overcome adversity and succeed in their new community, refugees have devised a variety of practices to deal with these issues. The central question of this study is: How are refugees’ living conditions protected by Malta’s immigration and integration policy? In light of this, the study explores the opportunities, experiences, and challenges encountered by refugees, as well as the commonly adopted coping mechanisms. Employing a mix of sample surveys, focus groups, informal conversations, key informant interviews, and everyday lived experiences, the study reveals how refugees and asylum seekers navigate the complex legal system to obtain the necessary documentation. It also shows how they can improve their chances of survival and integration with a combination of support from local communities, nongovernmental organisations, and the government. It contributes to a better understanding of how rights, opportunities, and protection for refugees and asylum seekers across all spheres of life can engender social cohesion in a multicultural society.peer-reviewe
Second record of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) from Maltese waters
Get PDFOn 6 July 2025, a specimen of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus (63.4 cm TL) was captured off Marsaxlokk Bay, southeastern Malta. This represents the second confirmed record from Maltese and central Mediterranean waters, following the first in 2011. The observation indicates a possible low but persistent presence, suggesting the early stages of establishment of this Indo-Pacific Lessepsian immigrant in the region.peer-reviewe
Maltese listed entity CFOs and their role in business development
Get PDFThis study investigates the evolving role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) within Maltese listed companies, with a focus on two key objectives: Examining CFOs’ involvement in business development and their collaboration with other senior managers, and evaluating the relative importance they assign to business development compared to their traditional financial responsibilities. Through a qualitative mixed-methods approach involving twenty-two semi-structured interviews with CFOs, the research provides nuanced insights into the expanding scope of their roles. Findings reveal a clear transformation: CFOs are no longer confined to financial oversight but are increasingly involved in shaping business development strategies. Their contribution to cross functional initiatives demonstrates a growing need for collaboration with senior executives across departments, positioning CFOs as central figures in strategic decision-making. Many CFOs indicated that business development now commands more of their time than traditional financial duties, reflecting a shift in priorities that enhances their influence and status within the organisational hierarchy. This increased strategic engagement is not only reshaping the perception of the CFO role but also endowing CFOs with a more diverse skill set, extending beyond finance to include leadership, innovation, and cross-departmental communication. While prior literature has explored the broader evolution of the CFO position, this study makes a unique contribution by narrowing its lens specifically to CFOs' roles in business development within the Maltese context. It highlights how their expanding responsibilities in this domain are crucial for driving organisational growth and adaptability in a dynamic business environment. As a result, CFOs are emerging as integral members of executive teams, with their strategic input influencing core aspects of company direction. This redefined role underscores the importance of recognising CFOs not just as financial stewards, but as key architects of business strategy and development, equipped with the vision and capability to lead beyond traditional finance functions.peer-reviewe
26th conference : insurance law and corporate governance
Get PDFThis book incorporates the Proceedings of the 26th annual conference of the Association for Insurance Law of Serbia, titled ‘Insurance law and corporate governance’. The conference was held in Zlatibor, Serbia from April 02 to 04, 2025. Subjects covered during the conference include insurance law, corporate governance and related risk management. Furthermore, the proceedings focus also on corporate sustainability, life insurance contracts, the Solvency II Directive and current trends in insurance policies.peer-reviewe