The Capture of Traditional Leaders by Political Parties in Zimbabwe for Political Expediency

Traditional leaders have been at the centre of controversy from the pre-colonial to the post-colonial period. The recognition of traditional leaders by the ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) in Zimbabwe has been controversial. Since 1999, the ZANU-PF government has been facing a serious political crises and an increasingly powerful opposition party (Movement for Democratic Change). Zimbabwe adopted a new Constitution in 2013 which, among other things recognizes the role of the institution of traditional leadership which operates alongside modern state structures. While recognizing the role and status of the institution, the Constitution strictly regulates the conduct of traditional leaders.

Understanding Organizational Innovativeness

This scholastic work is a comprehensive literature review about structure culture and innovation incorporating ideas and enumerating the growing importance of the right context in which these factors should work cohesively to bring in the required changes in the organisation. This is an added emphasis on culture as a pivot which enables an organisation to become innovative and entrepreneurial.

Socioeconomic Development in Balochistan

Balochistan has witnessed rapid social change since the 1970s. These changes were augmented by the national and international political situation. The traditional, tribal, and largely pastoral nomadic society of Balochistan gradually transformed into a modernizing agrarian society. On 1st July 1970, when ‘One Unit' was dissolved, Balochistan gained the status of a province and the bureaucratic expansion required educated work force. Thus, the Government of Pakistan expanded educational facilities in Balochistan, but this expansion continued at a very slow pace. Unfortunately, Balochistan is still the most backward province in terms of socioeconomic development in Pakistan. Though, it is the largest province in Pakistan, almost 44% of Pakistan's total area. It also possesses one of the largest blocks of juniper forests in the world. Along with it, Balochistan is rich in biodiversity and possess natural resources in abundance, like copper, gold, lead, zinc, iron, coal, and marble. This article focuses on the various factors affecting the socioeconomic development in Balochistan.

The Engagement of Indian Private Banks in the Economy Through Off-Balance Sheet Activities

After financial reform, banks in India adopted financial innovations to earn more profits through various off-balance-sheet tools. To gauge the impact of these items on the efficiency of the top private banks, the authors used the non-parametric Malmquist method. They calculated efficiency with and without the inclusion of these items. Technical and technological efficiency changes were calculated to make a total factor productivity change index for ten years, 2008 to 2017. The results for the banks strengthened the dominant view in the current literature, removing off-balance sheet items led to the biased efficiency of these banks. The presence of these items increased the efficiency of the banks. Nonetheless, it also supported that increments in efficiency were more due to technological change. Despite the odd distribution of these items among these banks, they made a significant piece in the income of banks and overlooking them eroded the efficiency of the banks.

Stakeholder Strategy to Lessen Agriculture Distress

Agriculture distress is a reality. Hence, the phenomenon of farmer suicides continues. This is, in spite of government support through financial aids. On the other hand, climatic conditions have undergone huge change and enhanced natural calamities like drought or floods. Thus, farmers' life is at stake and these natural calamities make it further difficult to repay the debts they avail for cultivating farming. Statistics reflect an increase in farmers suicide in the past two years. This is a cause of worry and may further increase if proper, and effective solutions are not in place. The issue is serious. Hence, there is a dire need to look into and act on priority to find stable solutions. Instead of granting repetitive financial packages, the need is to adopt suitable schemes. Hence, adopting a mixed-method approach with an in-depth literature review, the chapter aims to propose a stakeholder strategy to lessen agriculture distress. This is not mandatory, but adoption is likely to benefit a large number of poor farmers.

Volunteerism in Saudi Arabia

The chapter assesses the profile of volunteerism in Saudi Arabia, particularly the Al-Jubail Volunteer Club and its impact to society. One-hundred ninety (190) members of the club were the respondents of the study. Descriptive research design was utilized to gain accurate profile of the situation. It is found out that the demographic profile of volunteers coincides with some previous studies in terms of age bracket and occupation. Community concern motivated volunteers to participate. Volunteers perceived volunteering as a worthwhile activity. It is something that can improve and imply positive impact on their personal development. It is further concluded, that volunteering can help in over-all development of its members and society as well. Thus, volunteerism is the fundamental demonstration of citizenship, a method for battling social barring, and an imperative benefactor to the conveyance of good quality public service.

The Contribution of Zimbabwean Uniformed Women in Peacekeeping in Africa

This study sought to assess the contribution of Zimbabwean uniformed women in peacekeeping in Africa with specific reference to Liberia and East Timor. The study found out that despite being a key ingredient for successful operational impact in any peacekeeping mission, the contribution was not greatly appreciated due to a variety of factors. The study also noted that uniformed women peacekeepers were grappling with a plethora of challenges ranging from language and cultural barriers, a low number of female peacekeepers, gender stereotypes, to a non-family status of most United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. The study concludes that UN member states should vigorously conduct more sustained recruitment of women into national institutions such as military, police and prisons and correctional service to increase the pool of personnel for subsequent deployment to peacekeeping duties. The UN should look at the possibility of reviewing some of its policies to reduce the negative impact caused by the prolonged absence of peacekeepers away from their families.

Operational Risk Disclosure Practices in Emerging Economies

Risk disclosures provide an insight into the risk management policies and practices adopted by institutions and are useful in assessing the risk for various stakeholder groups. With the increasing incidence and complexity of operational risks in banks, it is imperative for banks to establish and follow suitable operational risk disclosure practices. The chapter attempts to examine the operational risk disclosure practices and the impact of bank specific characteristics on disclosure practices among Indian banks. Findings indicate disclosure levels to be inadequate, showing an insignificant improvement over the years. Bank profitability and depositor confidence significantly impact disclosure practices. The authors suggest that Indian banks should enhance their current operational risk disclosure levels to communicate to the stakeholders about the strength of their operational risk management framework. The Reserve Bank of India may issue new guidelines with respect to minimum disclosure requirements on operational risk to improve the quality of disclosures.

Assessment on Market Share of Spurious Spare Parts of ABC Earth Moving Equipments Pvt. Ltd., India

Global companies work on strategies to capture their position in the marketplace, operating on their market share to understand the demand supply equation of the spare parts. Buyers focus remains on the warranty period of the parts, till it exists they get it exchanged or purchase them. Once the warranty expires the purchase frequency transforms to spurious spare products as they get monetary advantage over others. Spurious markets have strong market share and position in fulfilling demands of the spare parts of the earth moving equipment. They produce imitated products which reassemble the original products, sell them to the vendors in spurious markets. To estimate the assessment on market share of spurious spare parts of ABC Earth Moving Equipments Pvt. Ltd, market research was carried out in the wholesale market selling and purchasing spurious earth moving spare parts. The outcome indicates that there is a notable influence on the profits of the company due to sale of the spurious spare products.

Action Research-Learning Approach for Social and Organizational Development

Education and research play a decisive role in the creation, dissemination, and use of knowledge. They form an important foundation for innovation at all levels. In recent years, a key strategy of most countries has been the promotion of industrial innovation and the governments focus turning to research in the university sector to deliver this innovation. Further, an increase in competition, and the fact that knowledge creation requires time, more organizations prefer acquiring it rather than internally developing. Hence, the chapter addresses a simple question— do action learning and research lead to organizational development? Truly said, research and teaching are synergistic too. Thus, adopting a grounded theory approach and in-depth literature review, the aim of this chapter is to investigate and cultivate a deeper understanding of action learning and research, establish a connection between knowledge and practice and show how this makes organizational development possible apart from proposing a framework for adoption of action research.