scholarly journals Evaluating the operational resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises to flooding using a computational modelling and simulation approach: a case study of the 2007 flood in Tewkesbury

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2168) ◽  
pp. 20190210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Coates ◽  
Meshal Alharbi ◽  
Chunhui Li ◽  
Sangaralingam Ahilan ◽  
Nigel Wright
Keyword(s):  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Flood ◽  
Geographical Environment

The resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to disruptive events is significant as this highly prevalent category of business forms the economic backbone in developed countries. This article provides an overview of the application of a computational modelling and simulation approach to evaluate SMEs' operational resilience to flooding based on combinations of structural and procedural mitigation measures that may be implemented to improve their premises' resistance to flooding and safeguard their business continuity. The approach integrates flood modelling and simulation with agent-based modelling and simulation (ABMS) within a modelled geographical environment. SMEs are modelled as agents based on findings of semi-structured interviews with SMEs that have experienced flooding or are at risk of flooding. In this paper, the ABMS has been applied to a new case study of the major flood event of 2007 in Tewkesbury. Furthermore, to enable an evaluation of the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in terms of the relative effectiveness of flood mitigation measures, a new coefficient based on production loss is introduced. Results indicate structural mitigation measures are more effective than procedural measures. While this result is intuitive, the approach provides a means of evaluating the relative effectiveness of combinations of mitigation measures that SMEs may implement to enhance their operational resilience to flooding. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Urban flood resilience’.

scholarly journals Governance Assessment of the Flood’s Infrastructure Policy in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico: Potential for a Leapfrog to Water Sensitive

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar Casiano Flores ◽  
Joep Crompvoets ◽  
Maria Eugenia Ibarraran Viniegra ◽  
Megan Farrelly
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Urban Floods ◽  
Urban Flood ◽  
San Pedro

Climate change together with population growth and land-use change have increased the risk of urban floods. Urban floods cause severe damages to cities and their inhabitants, and they are expected to increase over time. Consequently, urban adaptation is required to shift from traditional infrastructure (grey) to multifunctional infrastructure (blue-green) for improved flood management. Until recently, studies on the role and adoption of blue-green infrastructure have centered around large cities in developed countries, including Melbourne and Rotterdam, among others. Meanwhile, middle-sized cities in developing countries have received less attention. According to the Urban Water Management Transition Framework (UWMTF), cities in developing countries can learn from the experiences of developed cities and leapfrog to more ‘water sensitive’ practices. Although leapfrogging is context-dependent, our understanding of factors that support leapfrogging remains embryonic. This paper contributes to the scholarly understanding of the governance factors that support and limit leapfrogging. By applying the Governance Assessment Tool through semi-structured interviews and reviewing secondary data, this research assessed the implementation of flood protection infrastructure in San Pedro Cholula, a middle size city of Mexico. This work found the most supportive quality for delivering multifunctional infrastructure, was the extent of the governance system. The governance support extent was rated as moderate-low considering the platform for change is limited to government actors, which has further reinforced traditional approaches to infrastructure. In addition, the necessary governance features of coherence, flexibility and intensity were assessed as constraining change, with flexibility being the least supportive governance factor and ultimately hindering social actors’ participation and innovation. While the contemporary governance arrangements of San Pedro Cholula are not yet conducive to promoting a leapfrog in the delivery of urban flood infrastructure, the analysis has pointed to three catalytic factors to underpin a leapfrogging situation: trans-disciplinary science; cross-sector partnerships; and, innovation experiments.

Comparing formal and informal social protection: a case study exploring the usefulness of informal social protection in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Zahid Mumtaz ◽  
Peter Whiteford
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Global South ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Household Level ◽  
The Poor

Abstract In most global south countries, various informal institutions provide welfare to a large segment of the neglected, poor and vulnerable populations through informal social protection. Despite being a major source of welfare in the global south, the usefulness of informal social protection at the household level remains an under-researched area. In this exploratory study, we have determined the usefulness of informal social protection provided through religious institutions, such as madrassas and compared it with formal social protection at the household level utilising the case study of a lower-income country such as Pakistan. A mixed methodology of data collection comprising a survey and semi-structured interviews in 14 different cities of Pakistan of the poor and eligible households for receiving formal social protection was conducted for the research. The results suggest the coverage of informal social protection provided by madrassas is greater than formal social protection. The poor and vulnerable population value and considers it more useful than formal social protection. We conclude that integrating informal and formal social protection would help improve the effectiveness of social policies in developing and less developed countries.

scholarly journals Expatriate Management of Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises: A Multiple Case Study Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Yifan Zhong ◽  
Jiuhua Cherrie Zhu ◽  
Mingqiong Mike Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Expatriate Management ◽  
Multiple Case

Expatriate management has evolved through the practices of developed economy multinational enterprises (DMNEs), with the aim of improving expatriate adaptability, cross-cultural adjustment, and performance. However, most of these studies focus on expatriates from developed countries and try to help DMNEs instead of emerging market MNEs (EMNEs). In a turbulent global economy, how EMNEs manage their expatriates when conducting business through their outward foreign direct investment (FDI) is understudied. This empirical study aims to address this research gap by utilising a qualitative approach and a multiple case study. It has conducted semi-structured interviews with expatriates, executives, and middle managers of Chinese MNEs in 2014. It contributes as one of the few to systematically examine expatriate related issues in the context of EMNEs with first-hand empirical evidence. The findings show that EMNEs are leapfrogging with their internationalisation and hence their expatriate policies are often ad hoc without systematic planning. Moreover, this study has contributed to practice, especially to EMNEs, regarding the way they need to improve their expatriate policies and practices.

scholarly journals Measurements in the Early Stage Software Start-ups: A Multiple Case Study in a Nascent Ecosystem

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Kamulegeya ◽  
Raymond Mugwanya ◽  
Regina Hebig
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Software Products ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Start Ups

Abstract Context: Software measurement is crucial to stay competitive and deliver quality software products. Problem: While much research has been done on measurement in large companies in developed countries, there is limited research on measurement in start-ups. So far there are no studies on whether these results apply to nascent ecosystems, such as those in East Africa. Goal: The aim of this study is to understand the use and perceived benefits of measurement in software start-ups in East Africa. Method: We performed a multi-case study on 19 software start-ups in hubs in Uganda and Kenya, through conducting semi-structured interviews. We transcribed and analyzed them using the content analysis technique. Results: We identified that start-ups are using a number of business and product-oriented metrics. Furthermore, we found no evidence on the use of design-oriented metrics. Nonetheless, start-ups have considerable expectations on the benefits of measuring. Finally, metrics found in this study partially differ from metrics used in start-ups in developed countries. Conclusion: There is a need to create a more inclusive characterization for measurement as early start-ups in East Africa cannot yet be represented with known models.

Emerging multinationals investing in developed countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selena Aureli ◽  
Massimo Ciambotti ◽  
Alessandro Dragoni
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Joint Stock Company ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Stock Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evaluation Phase

Purpose The aim of this work is to investigate the key factors that lead to a successful deal in the case of acquisitions of Western companies by multinationals from emerging countries (EMNCs). Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative paradigm and uses a case study method as a tool of analysis. The case concerns Fondalmec, an Italian unlisted medium-sized joint stock company. The company was acquired in 2007 by the Indian multinational Endurance. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and integrated with secondary data retrieved from relevant documents such as annual reports prepared before and after the acquisition. Findings Research findings show that EMNCs have some country-specific characteristics, which should be adequately assessed and realigned to the characteristics of the host country and targets’ resources during both the evaluation phase and the integration process. Research limitations/implications The research limitation is attributed to there being only one case study analysis. Practical implications The study recommends examining the country of origin of the acquirer and suggests EMNCs’ managers to prefer a “light-touch” integration of Western target companies to gain access to their intangible assets and achieve success. Originality/value This work differs from much of the existing literature on mergers and acquisitions because it focuses on EMNCs and analyses the target company together with the buyer and their post-operative development strategy. Furthermore, it is one of the few empirical research studies on non-listed companies, which are often overlooked given the greater difficulty of accessing data.

scholarly journals Building trust in a guarantee fund in a challenging institutional environment

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-110
Author(s):  
Luciano Quinto Lanz ◽  
Patricia Amelia Tomei
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Credit Guarantees ◽  
Organizational Relations

Difficult access to credit is a major obstacle to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) survival, especially in emerging countries, affecting their competitiveness. Lack of guarantees is a main reason why banks do not lend to MSMEs. Guarantee schemes provide partial credit guarantees, but often fail to win trust of banks and enterprises. This study analyzes the process of building trust between the Fundo Garantidor para Investimentos (Investment Guarantee Fund, FGI), created in 2009, and banks in Brazil. This trust was hampered by the failure of public guarantee funds created in the 1990’s. This created a challenging institutional environment to the new fund. The methodology employed was a case study, based on a qualitative approach with document analysis, semi-structured interviews and descriptive statistics. The analysis used models for building and repairing trust in inter-organizational relations and international benchmark for governance and effectiveness of guarantee schemes. The analysis showed that the FGI used other emerging countries and developed countries experience to construct adequate governance and succeeded in establishing trust with the banks. The results show that by 2017, 26 banks contract more than 32,000 operations worth 1.9 billion dollars, with additionalities comparable to the international benchmark.

scholarly journals Socio–Economic Analysis of Riverine Flooding on Low-Income Dwellings: Adayar River, a Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-157
Author(s):  
Suriya Saravanan ◽  
Mudgal Basavaraj ◽  
Prakash Nelliyat
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Flood Plain ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Flood Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sustainable Mitigation

AbstractFlood damage assessment plays a vital role in providing information to policy developers. Nowadays, due to urbanization, the impact of flooding on communities is extensive, including tangible damage to property, the environment, and infrastructure as well as intangible damage due to stress, health hazards, and hardship. This paper provides an overview of a detailed flood assessment study conducted in the Kotturpuram Housing board area, located on the flood plain of the Adayar River in Chennai, India. A relatively simple approach to data collection was adopted, being a Questionnaire Survey (QS) as well as semi-structured interviews and observation techniques, due to data and research limitations. Losses due to damage to belongings and extra spending to buy essential commodities during flooding are also dealt with in this study. The flood mitigation costs for flooding that occurred in the year 2015 are also evaluated. A stage-damage curve was arrived at based on the information collected. Optimal and sustainable mitigation measures can be achieved only when the socio-economic aspects are adequately considered. Thus, this analysis was designed to estimate the effects of flooding on a community’s social and economic welfare, and thereby help to educate the community, including residents and officials, about the impact and magnitude of flooding. The outputs of the study will be the key inputs for designing flood mitigation and relief measures.

scholarly journals Reducing Ship Queuing Time in Port Operation: A Modelling and Simulation Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.20) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Fazeeda Binti Mohamad ◽  
Nurul Shahadah Binti Osman Mydin ◽  
Ahmad A.N.Aizat
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Event Simulation ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Modelling And Simulation ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Operation System ◽  
Port Operation ◽  
Event Simulation ◽  
Time Operation ◽  
Loading And Unloading

This study focuses on reducing queuing time in port operation by using discrete event simulation approach. This study was conducted to analyze the port operation activity in order to improve their performance in terms of time operation. A model was developed and simulated by mimicking the real port operation system using a case study. Two scenarios were experimented to see the effects or improvements in the queuing time of container loading and unloading activities. The result demonstrates the positive improvement on the queuing time for container to be loading and unloading.  

FOSTERING STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES IN ENGLISH WRITING WITH MICROBLOGGING IN TWITTER

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Pham Thi Thu Hien
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology

Twitter and Microblogging are two separate entities but completes each other. Both of them can be used as language learning tools and their potential has been proved by several scholars. This study tries to examine students’ experiences in integrating microblogging with twitter. It is also study about the beneficial roles of microblogging with Twitter in language learning, its relation to writing, and its appropriateness in language learning. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, and case study as its research design. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were employed in this study to find out about participants' views about microblogging and Twitter. From this study, it can be concluded that the participants of the study underwent various experiences during the implementation of microblogging with Twitter. They also felt that microblogging with Twitter at some point advantages them to systematically arrange their ideas, and allows them to choose appropriate diction of their ideas. They also stated that Twitter can be an appropriate means in language learning, especially in English writing<em>.</em>

Topik-Topik Komunikasi Dakwah Dalam Mesej Akidah Kepada Masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor

Sains Insani ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Zulkefli Aini ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Don ◽  
Ahmad Irdha Mokhtar ◽  
Nur Uswah Ahmad Fauzi
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Verbal Feedback ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Beliefs And Practice ◽  
Islamic Faith ◽  
Selection Of

One of the factors that can affect a person's behavior is a communication message. In the context of the da`wah, preachers who involved actively in da`wah communication with the Orang Asli should be able to ensure that the message conveyed can be understood by the target group. In addition, the selection of the correct messages of da`wah based on the foremost priority simplify the process of sharing information between the preachers and the Orang Asli. Accordingly, this article aims to identify specific topics of Islamic faith (akidah) submitted by the Orang Asli in the process of da`wah communication and to identify verbal feedback given by the preachers to the Orang Asli of the topics. This qualitative study using case study design and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews involving nine preachers were active in da`wah activity to the Orang Asli community in Selangor. Data were analyzed thematically according to the specified objectives. The study found that the topics frequently raised by the Orang Asli is concerned about belief in Allah, belief in Malaikat, and belief in Qada' and Qadar. The topics may be found within the framework of worldview in their beliefs and practice of ancient traditions. Therefore, the preachers gave verbal feedback on these topics is based on a clear and precise sample corresponding to the level of their thinking. The emphasis on these topics is very important to strengthen and purify the faith of the community.Keywords: Communication; Message; Preacher; Indigenous community Abstrak: Elemen mesej dalam komunikasi merupakan salah satu faktor yang dapat memberi kesan terhadap perubahan tingkah laku seseorang. Dalam konteks dakwah, pendakwah yang terlibat dalam proses komunikasi dakwah dengan Orang Asli seharusnya berkebolehan memastikan kandungan mesej yang disampaikan boleh difahami oleh sasaran dakwahnya. Di samping itu, pemilihan mesej dakwah yang betul mengikut keutamaan memudahkan proses perkongsian maklumat antara pendakwah dengan Orang Asli. Sehubungan dengan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti topik-topik tertentu dalam mesej akidah yang dikemukakan oleh masyarakat Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dan mengenalpasti maklum balas lisan yang diberikan oleh pendakwah kepada Orang Asli terhadap topik tersebut. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan reka bentuk kajian kes dengan pengumpulan data melalui temu bual separa struktur. Temu bual melibatkan sembilan orang pendakwah yang aktif dalam aktiviti dakwah masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor. Data kajian dianalisis secara tematik mengikut objektif yang ditentukan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang sering dikemukan oleh Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dalam penyampaian mesej akidah ialah berkenaan tentang keimanan kepada Allah SWT, keimanan kepada malaikat, dan keimanan kepada qada’ dan qadar. Topik-topik berkenaan didapati berada dalam kerangka worldview kepercayaan dan amalan tradisi mereka. Sehubungan dengan itu, pendakwah memberikan maklum balas lisan terhadap topik-topik tersebut adalah berdasarkan keterangan yang jelas dan contoh yang tepat bersesuaian dengan tahap pemikiran mereka. Penekanan terhadap topik-topik tersebut merupakan perkara yang penting dalam rangka mengukuhkan dan memurnikan akidah masyarakat Orang Asli.Kata kunci: Komunikasi; Mesej; Pendakwah; Komuniti Orang Asli

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