The Internet of Things (IoT) has been implemented by multiple manufacturing companies into their production chain as this technology is the main source of digitalization in a production plant. It improves the data assembling, productivity of the operation, communication efficiency, and overall manufacturing performance. IoT is also serves to be a good means for improved and efficient warehouse automation. It makes the delivery of products more efficient by calculating the least routes and also reduces the time that is consumed during the management of inventory. The basic objective of Industry 4.0 is to lessen the participation of human operators and to emphasize the automation systems. However, this objective has changed in Industry 5.0, which aims to achieve the maximum benefits through the human–machine interaction by maintaining a balance. Industry 5.0 aims to strengthen the interaction between ever-increasing powerful machinery and the productive abilities of human beings. This paper introduces a detailed overview of IoT in enabling digital transformations and Industry 4.0. The authors have discussed the application of IoT in different industrial sectors, and how the concept of IIoT has evolved. In addition to this, the present paper highlights several research studies that enable the authors to elicit the major challenges, implementation analysis, and future scope of IIoT.

PurposeThe research work provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on blockchain in general and with respect to trust and reputation management in particular. The research work also incorporates the research progress in Pakistan in the field of blockchain.Design/methodology/approachThe research study is conducted in three phases in which 9 different research questions are assessed for the time duration of 2012–2020 on a total of 9,314 published studies. The source of the research study is from one of the most prestigious databases, the Web of Science (WoS). The scholarly publication includes analysis on WoS categories, annual publication trends, types of documents, research areas, and collaboration network amongst countries, co-word analysis, top 10 countries and top 10 organizations with respect to research publications. The authors use VOSviewer tool to generate collaboration network of countries and co-occurrence network for co-word analysis. The connecting thread among the research question is the overarching research objective of exploring and understanding research out in blockchain. The authors have conducted the research in three phases. Phase 1 is planned to show various quantitative analysis of blockchain worldwide with respect to all 9 questions. In Phase II, prime importance is being given to the trust and reputation management aspect of blockchain. Phase III is concerned with the findings of 9 research questions with Pakistan as the ultimate focus.FindingsMajor findings include that China and the USA are the leading countries as they have contributed the most in research field of blockchain. Computer science emerged as the leading research area. The first research article dates back to 2013 with significant rise in publication trend over the last 4 years from 2017–2020. Trust management emerged as one of the key fields where blockchain plays a pivotal role. Pakistan occupies a position in top 20 countries with respect to research contribution. However, in order to rank amongst top 10 research countries, Pakistan needs rapid technological advancement. The immense rise in research publication trend in Pakistan from the year 2019–2020 as compared to prior 2019 era indicates that due focus is being given in the field of blockchain in Pakistan since the last two years.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors have considered WoS data source. Therefore, the study is limited to those published scholarly studies which are present in WoS database. More detailed assessment can be performed by analyzing other data resources. The authors have performed analysis based on 9 research questions. However, other parameters can also be included to perform more enhanced and detailed analysis. All types of documents are included in our research work including secondary studies also. However, some authors might not prefer to include all types of documents.Practical implicationsThe paper includes implications for the development of trust and reputation management area of blockchain.Originality/valueThe bibliometric analysis is worthy for scholars, researchers and students to help them make better decision in the field of blockchain with respect to various parameters. The study also serves as a motivating factor to conduct research in the area of blockchain with any language as a medium of research.

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Building and maintaining software is a risky business. Since software permeates and controls so much of the present-day enterprise (and its products), delay, cost excess, and failure to fulfill a command, can have far-reaching consequences. A common response to such risk is to ignore it completely. We justify this as "positive approach," the heart and soul of a Can-Do management philosophy. But when real risks turn into real problems and throw our projects down in flames, we can see that our past "positive approach" was little more than repudiation. There should be a better way.Planning the core activities, the must-be-dones of software development, is an essential but not sufficient beginning. Given that projects never run just exactly as the optimal plan, we need Risk Management as well. Risk Management is project management for adults. It keeps your attention focused constructively on the very characteristics that, if overlooked, could lead to disastrous collapse of the project.A policy of risk aversion guides us to become more and more efficient and to avoid things that are less and less worth doing. The projects that yield real benefit are destined to be full of risk. Running away from risk will not prove to be useful instead we need to school ourselves to run toward it, but very, very cautiously.As high benefit endeavors are always risky, we have to make ways to find out the lurking risks, estimate their effect, optimize our response, and keep an eye on the changes. These are the vital skills of Risk Management.

Pakistan energy demand has grown exponentially over the last 2 decades. Reason behind increasing energy demand is excessive mobility of rural population to cities, rapid progression in industrial and transport sector, lack of policy making and implementation on the developed policies and improvements in living style. At present, Pakistan witness 5000-7000 MW power deficit in summer. To reduce the demand and supply gap, power plants across Pakistan are planned to be installed while some are under development phase. Power expansion plans cannot cope with the current energy shortfall since several years are required for them to get fully operational. Effective energy policy is the only key to address the existing shortfall. This paper discusses the initiatives that may be taken to reduce the power shortfall using energy efficiency and conservation, deployment of microgrids, utilization of renewable energy resources and effective research and development in energy sector. Since another most important issue evaluated in the research regarding the energy crises is energy efficiency and lack of compliance to government regulations for energy efficiency and conservation. Implementation on the policies developed for energy efficiencies and conservation has not been witnessed. Possible solutions on short term basis to lessen the energy crises have also been discussed in the paper.