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The article is devoted to the problems of the competency-based approach to the implementation of the educational process and the evaluation of its results. It is noted that in modern science there is a conceptual inconsistency regarding the meaning of the competence concept, which leads to a misunderstanding of "what exactly" and "how exactly" should be formed in the educational system and in the educational process. The relevance of the search for sufficient theoretical and methodological foundations for a full-fledged scientific (including sociological) conceptualization of the concept of competence is emphasized. As such, it is proposed to consider the disposition theory and V. Yadov's conception. Thus, the purpose of the article is to sociological conceptualization of competence and the competence-based approach to education, through the prism of dispositional theory. To achieve this goal, various interpretations of the competence concept are analyzed. The importance of the motivational component of competence is emphasized, which, on the basis of the value-semantic interpretation, determines the interest in certain knowledge and readiness for its practical application. Emphasis is placed on the fact that motives are the basic structural element of both competence and disposition. This becomes the starting point for the author to build a conceptual relationship between competence and certain personal dispositions. The expediency of considering the competency-based approach through the prism of dispositional theory is substantiated, which opens up prospects for the development of relevant tools for measuring competencies. It is proved that the V. Yadov's conception of dispositional (self)regulation has sufficient explanatory power to serve as a theoretical and methodological basis for establishing the process of formation and development of competencies in the education system by creating special educational conditions, organizing the education space and the environment of the education institution. It is concluded that the consideration of the competence approach through the prism of dispositional theory, the derivation of logical relationships between competencies and dispositions, allows us to consider the former as components of habitus.

In contrast to the 'reductionistic' approach, a 'holistic' approach to resource‐based theory has the ability to address the complex interrelationships among multiple organizational characteristics, competitive strategies, and performance.

PurposeFollowing the advancement of financial technology (FinTech) in modern society to assist investment decisions, robo-advisers had become widely used in mean-variance analyses to allow investors to formulate efficiently diversified investment portfolios. However, the concept of robo-advisers is new, and few studies have addressed issues related to them. To help readers to better understand robo-advisor adoption by a wide range of potential customers, this study explores integrated models of the attitudes (ATT) and behavioural intentions (BI) of users towards robo-advisors.Design/methodology/approachA survey was used to gather data to determine how the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) applies to robo-advisors. A total of 242 valid questionnaires were collected.FindingsThe results of our study show that performance expectations (PE), effort expectancy (EE), and social influences (SI) may have indirect influences on robo-advisor behavioural intention (BI) through attitudes. Furthermore, behavioural intention was also positively influenced by facilitating conditions (FC). Moreover, the investment to income ratio (IIR) moderated the relationship between the PE, EE, and SI influence on ATT. Additionally, experience is found to positively strengthen the relationship between EE and SI on ATT, and it moderated the relationship between FC and BI.Originality/valueThis research is expected to expand the use of UTAUT to tools in the field of financial investments and help financial sectors formulate suitable marketing strategies.

The German Energiewende is a deliberate transformation of an established industrial economy towards a nearly CO2-free energy system accompanied by a phase out of nuclear energy. Its governance requires knowledge on how to steer the transition from the existing status quo to the target situation (transformation knowledge). The energy system is, however, a complex socio-technical system whose dynamics are influenced by behavioural and institutional aspects, which are badly represented by the dominant techno-economic scenario studies. In this paper we therefore investigate and identify characteristics of model studies that make agent-based modelling supportive for the generation of transformation knowledge for the Energiewende. This is done by reflecting on the experiences gained from four different applications of agent-based models. In particular, we analyse whether the studies haveimproved our understanding of policies' impacts on the energy system, whether the knowledge derived is useful for practitioners, how valid understanding derived by the studiesis, and whether insights can be used beyond the initial case-studies. We conclude that agent-based modelling has high potential to generate transformation knowledge, but that the design of projects in which the models are developed and used is of major importance to reap this potential. Well-informed and goal-oriented stakeholder involvement and a strong collaboration between data collection and model development are crucial.

Brulle (2000) has noted the failure of the recent literature in critical theory to reflect the commitment of its founders to applying their philosophical and theoretical scholarship to create concrete social change. The authors have taken up the challenge to recover critical theory's "forgotten materialist component" and simultaneously responded to the call to reinvigorate the civic mission of the public university through efforts to integrate critical theory with community service learning and community-based research. The paper discusses historical, philosophical and theoretical issues in this effort and some reflections on our attempt to apply them in practice through the revitalization of the Center for Community Action and Research at Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg.

The given article contains research of the evolution of the Russian party system. The chosen methodology is based on the heuristic potential of agent-based modelling. The author analyzes various scenarios of parties' competition (applying Pareto distribution) in connection with recent increase of the number of political parties. In addition, the author predicts the level of ideological diversity of the parties' platforms (applying the principles of Hotelling distribution) in order to evaluate their potential competitiveness in the struggle for voters. ; В статье исследуется эволюция партийной системы РФ. Опираясь на эвристический потенциал агентного моделирования, автор рассматривает (на основе распределения Парето) возможные сценарии партийной конкуренции в связи с увеличением числа политических партий, а также (на основе распределения Хотеллинга) прогнозирует уровень идеологического разнообразия партийных программ, определяя их потенциальные перспективы в борьбе за избирателя.

ABSTRACTCustomer service is a key component of a firm's value proposition and a fundamental driver of differentiation and competitive advantage in nearly every industry. Moreover, the relentless coevolution of service opportunities with novel and more powerful information technologies has made this area exciting for academic researchers who can contribute to shaping the design and management of future customer service systems. We engage in interdisciplinary research—across information systems, marketing, and computer science—in order to contribute to the service design and service management literature. Grounded in the design‐science perspective, our study leverages marketing theory on the service‐dominant logic and recent findings pertaining to the evolution of customer service systems. Our theorizing culminates with the articulation of four design principles. These design principles underlie the emerging class of customer service systems that, we believe, will enable firms to better compete in an environment characterized by an increase in customer centricity and in customers' ability to self‐serve and dynamically assemble the components of solutions that fit their needs. In this environment, customers retain control over their transactional data, as well as the timing and mode of their interactions with firms, as they increasingly gravitate toward integrated complete customer solutions rather than single products or services. Guided by these design principles, we iterated through, and evaluated, two instantiations of the class of systems we propose, before outlining implications and directions for further cross‐disciplinary scholarly research.

The complexities of markets and market environments are felt in the design and the evaluation of market systems development (MSD) programmes. The authors reflect on a recent evaluation of an MSD programme in Nepal in which they used contribution analysis as a means of navigating these complexities. The planned niceties of the proposal soon departed ways from the reality on the ground, forcing the authors to adopt a more iterative evaluation approach, while ensuring evaluative robustness. This article outlines the iterative process and what the authors have learned regarding the applicability of contribution analysis within a theory-based evaluation, in a dynamic, changing environment.