Chapters authored
Innovation Methodologies to Activate Inclusive Growth in the Organization
Digitalization is transforming the way we move and produce, encouraging the industry to use the best available technologies focusing on people. Non technological innovations, especially, Workplace Innovation (WI) will play a key role in the digital revolution and acceleration of the technological advances, improving the competitiveness of the companies. This draws attention to the importance of the innovation culture and employee engagement focused on improving employee motivation and working conditions, thereby improving labor productivity, organizational efficiency, innovation capacity, market reactivity, and, as a result, business competitiveness. WI is a combination of structural and cultural practices that boosts employees’ participation, improving the quality of work and organizational performance. These strategies aim to promote innovative work behavior to create, introduce and apply new ideas, processes and products. To address these issues this chapter analyses WI in rail sector and defines WI Scheme for rail sector. A theoretical background is presented based on a sample of 203 railway entities across European Union (EU). Then, data analysis and results are examined and the guide to implement WI scheme is defined. Finally, the results of the research, including limitations and concluding remarks are discussed.
Part of the book: Advances in Decision Making
Analysis on the Technological Needs and Requirements of SMEs in Rail
Change is the permanent situation we live in, fostered by three main drivers identified in the new European Industrial Strategy plus by the COVID-19 pandemics, which on the one hand is pushing SMEs towards digitalisation and on the other hand is pushing us all towards the need to recover and build a resilient – and sovereign – industry for Europe. These necessary adaptations should be exploited as an opportunity to improve their environmental footprint and economic resilience. One path to achieve this is the uptake of advanced technologies. This chapter identifies the needs and barriers for rail SMEs to adopt technologies and advance their level of digitalisation in order to improve their services, production processes and products. The analysis has received funding from the European Union’s Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (COSME) programme under the Grant Agreement number: 101037897 — STARS — COS-STRAT-2020-3-05.
Part of the book: New Research on Railway Engineering and Transportation
Analysis of Technologies Maturation Level to Face the Future Challenges of the Rail Sector
Technologies play a key role in driving innovation in the rail sector, addressing key aspects such as sustainability, efficiency, passenger experience, and freight transport. The implementation of new propulsion systems and advanced materials in pursuit of sustainability, together with the adoption of smart operation and advanced manufacturing, contribute to optimizing resources, and reducing environmental impact. Data and analytics-based solutions enable more effective management of operation, predictive maintenance and safety, and improving service reliability and safety. In addition, passenger-oriented applications and services, such as digital ticketing and real-time information, enrich the user experience. Technology is also revolutionizing freight transport, optimizing the operation and infrastructure for more efficient and sustainable movement of goods. Together, these technologies are shaping a more advanced and efficient future for the rail sector.
Part of the book: Business and Management Annual Volume 2023