A critical scenario analysis of end-of-life ship disposal

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Cairns
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Bottom Of The Pyramid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ship Breaking ◽  
Future Status

Purpose – This paper aims to critically engage with the premise of development at the “bottom of the pyramid” through consideration of the current and potential future status of the workers who dismantle end-of-life ships in the breaking yards of “less developed countries”, here with specific reference to the dynamic situation in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies “critical scenario method” (CSM) to explore different possible and plausible futures for the ship-breaking industry globally and locally. Findings – The paper argues that the status of the workers in the ship-breaking industry of Bangladesh can be conceptualised as firmly set at the “bottom of the pyramid”, and that, for most if not all, this situation cannot be changed within any industry future without wider, radical change to socioeconomic and political structures both in the country and globally. Originality/value – This paper offers a contribution to the discourse on consumption at the “bottom of the pyramid” as a development process.

Comparative study on Life Cycle Assessment of buildings in developed countries and Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isuri Anuradha Amarasinghe ◽  
Dumindu Soorige ◽  
Devindi Geekiyanage
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status

PurposeLife cycle assessment (LCA) has considerably contributed to increasing the environmental friendliness of buildings in developed countries. However, it is hard to find evidence on the application of LCA for buildings in developing countries; particularly, Sri Lanka. There is a lack of research to compare the status of LCA of buildings in developed countries vs developing countries. In this context, the purpose of this study aims to examine the status of LCA implementation for buildings between developed countries and Sri Lanka, a developing country.Design/methodology/approachThe exploratory research was adapted, and in-depth interviews were held with LCA professionals from Sri Lanka and developed countries, respectively.FindingsRelatively less attention has been paid to the implementation of LCA for buildings in Sri Lanka compared to the developed countries due to the time and effort required to collect life cycle inventory data and limited stakeholder understanding of the LCA. Hence, this study proposed improvements, including the development of LCA databases containing region-specific data and conducting programmes to raise stakeholders' awareness to address the gaps in Sri Lanka.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified LCA implementation process for buildings could be used as a guide for first-time LCA users, and it equally makes a valued reference for experienced practitioners.Originality/valueA limited number of the studies formulate a comparison between the LCA for building in developed countries and developing countries. This research attempts to address this knowledge gap.

Austrian election could herald radical change

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Minister ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
General Election ◽  
Social Democrats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Force ◽  
People's Party ◽  
The Status ◽  
To Come

Subject Profile of Sebastian Kurz. Significance Rising political star Sebastian Kurz is using his position as foreign minister as a springboard in a bid to become chancellor after the October 15 general election. The 31-year-old Kurz has reinvented the Austrian People’s Party (OeVP), a leading political force since 1945 and junior partner in a coalition led by Chancellor Christian Kern’s Social Democrats (SPOe), to create a challenge to the status quo. Impacts A Kurz-led coalition would seek sweeping changes, cutting taxes and cracking down on welfare abuse to increase individual initiative. If Kurz fails, the OeVP will plunge into chaos and internal disputes. Kurz could become a victim of his own success and prompt rival parties to come together despite their differences, in an effort to stop him.

Serving poor people in rich countries: the bottom-of-the-pyramid business model solution

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaques Angot ◽  
Loïc Plé
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Bottom Of The Pyramid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fresh Perspective ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
The Developed Countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of-the-pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries. This would enable them to address the consequences of the economic crisis that has increased the number of poor and financially constrained customers in developed countries. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual article based on current research and multiple examples from real-world companies that have implemented BOP business models. These are viewed from the angle of frugal innovation, a fresh perspective on innovation as an outcome and process, which means innovating while significantly economizing the use of scarce resources. Findings – The paper explains how firms should adapt the three dimensions of their business models (value proposition, resources and competences and organization) to transpose BOP business models to TOP countries. Limitations and advantages of this transposition are also detailed. Research limitations/implications – A lack of prior research on how firms can confront poverty in TOP countries is emphasized. Further studies are needed to help firms adapt to the new economic conditions in TOP countries. Practical implications – Practitioners can use the recommendations herein to adapt their business models and address dramatic economic and social changes in the developed countries in which they function. Originality/value – Considering the differences between developed and developing countries, firms should promote a BOP mind-set, rather than struggling to transpose full BOP business models to TOP settings.

Collaborative story production with bereaved family carers of people who died in advanced age

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tess Huia Moeke-Maxwell ◽  
Janine Wiles ◽  
Stella Black ◽  
Lisa Williams ◽  
Merryn Gott
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Sensitive Information ◽  
Older Person ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Status ◽  
Kaupapa Māori ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
Bereaved Family

Purpose Is collaborative story production (CSP) a useful method to collaborate with bereaved families to record their reflections on the end of life circumstances and care of people of advanced age? The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from Te Pākeketanga, a bicultural study involving 58 bereaved Māori and non-Māori families on behalf of 52 older relatives, the authors describe the CSP method. Researchers and participants co-created personalised written stories about the older person and their end of life experiences, supported with photographs of family, friends and memorabilia. The authors aimed to uplift the status of the older person and their family by tangibly reflecting the significance and magnitude of what had been shared and to strengthen the research analysis. Findings CSP supported member checking, promoted a robust understanding of participants’ narratives and increased the trustworthiness of data and strengthened the Kaupapa Māori and social constructivist analysis. However, some participants experienced difficulty revisiting painful memories when reading their story. CSP took longer than anticipated, was labour intensive and required a highly skilled and resourced team to ensure participants benefitted. Originality/value Using the CSP method with a bicultural cohort of bereaved families who had provided care to someone over the age of 80 was very helpful in assisting the researchers to gather narrative information and present it back to participants in a story format for their comment and feedback. The method contributed a useful way to partner with bereaved family caregivers following the death of an older family member. The authors needed a way to record the participants’ narratives of the older person’s end of life circumstances and end of life care experiences. This was very important, particularly for grieving families and indigenous families who may have felt vulnerable engaging with research, and with the research processes. The approach provided a helpful and non-intrusive member-checking process. The unique bicultural study approach deliberately utilised the CSP method to assist the researchers to work safely with bereaved families as the participants reflected upon and explored not only the end of life circumstances of the older person, but they also focused on the “death” and their own bereavement experiences. CSP also provided a helpful member-checking method; the authors were working with highly sensitive information and wanted to ensure that the authors as researchers understood and interpreted the families’ narrative data correctly, according to their perspectives.

Current status of nanotechnology in Jordan

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehab Alshamaileh ◽  
Mazen Al-Sulaibi ◽  
Ahmad Al-Khawaldeh ◽  
Mansour H. Almatarneh ◽  
Dina El-Sabawi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nanotechnology Research ◽  
The Status ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
The Many

Purpose – The current status of nanotechnology research and development in Jordan is analyzed. In recent years, Jordanian institutions demonstrated considerable interest in the development and production of nanotechnology. Here the purpose of this paper is to provide detailed information about the status of nanotechnology in Jordan in terms of several factors that influence selectivity in nanotechnology and the number of published peer-reviewed research articles. Design/methodology/approach – Several factors that influence selectivity in nanotechnology and the number of published peer-reviewed research articles were analyzed. A detailed analysis of the collected data reveals that the number of publications, citations, and patents is highly dependent on the amount of research fund. Findings – The development in nanotechnology is associated with presence and accessibility of sensitive laboratory equipment. The nanotechnology research output in Jordan is still lower than it should be due to the lack of necessary laboratory infrastructure. This is due to the insufficient funds allocated to scientific research, the restrictive access to available instruments and the bureaucracy of some governmental departments. Compared to some developed countries, Jordan is noticeably behind in developing a nanotechnology system of research and industry. It will take time as well as technical and financial resources in order to achieve an advanced level in the field of nanotechnology in Jordan. Nevertheless, many Jordanian researchers are doing their best and are producing some good research articles. Research limitations/implications – The many applications to the same approach. Practical implications – Time and publications’ resources. Social implications – Peer cooperation. Originality/value – First comprehensive review ever. A base for researchers and decision makers.

scholarly journals Devolving healthcare services redesign to local clinical leaders: does it work in practice?

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Storey ◽  
Richard Holti ◽  
Jean Hartley ◽  
Martin Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Systems Of Care ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Leadership ◽  
The Status ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the findings arising from a three year research project which investigated a major system-wide change in the design of the NHS in England. The radical policy change was enshrined in statute in 2012 and it dismantled existing health authorities in favour of new local commissioning groups built around GP Practices. The idea was that local clinical leaders would “step-up” to the challenge and opportunity to transform health services through exercising local leadership. This was the most radical change in the NHS since its inception in 1948. Design/methodology/approach The research methods included two national postal surveys to all members of the boards of the local groups supplemented with 15 scoping case studies followed by six in-depth case studies. These case studies focused on close examination of instances where significant changes to service design had been attempted. Findings The authors found that many local groups struggled to bring about any significant changes in the design of care systems. But the authors also found interesting examples of situations where pioneering clinical leaders were able to collaborate in order to design and deliver new models of care bridging both primary and secondary settings. The potential to use competition and market forces by fully utilising the new commissioning powers was more rarely pursued. Practical implications The findings carry practical implications stemming from positive lessons about securing change even under difficult circumstances. Originality/value The paper offers novel insights into the processes required to introduce new systems of care in contexts where existing institutions tend to revert to the status quo. The national survey allows accurate assessment of the generalisability of the findings about the nature and scale of change.

Envisioning a sustainable consumption future

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Aitken ◽  
Leah Watkins ◽  
Sophie Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Community Research ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
Sustainable Future ◽  
Government Education ◽  
The Status

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand what a sustainable future would look like and the nature of the changes needed to achieve it. Continued reliance on economic growth to meet the demands of a growing population is unsustainable and comes at an unacceptable social and environmental cost. Given these increasing demands, radical changes to present practices of production and consumption are needed to enable a sustainable future. Design/methodology/approach To address this the projective technique of backcasting was used in a pilot study to explore student visions of a sustainable future. An integrative framework comprising housing, clothing, travel, leisure and food provided the structure for six focus group discussions. Findings Thematic analysis identified three key characteristics of a sustainable consumption future, namely, efficiency, sharing and community and three critical elements, namely, the role of government, education and technology, necessary for its achievement. Research limitations/implications Demonstrating the usefulness of backcasting will encourage its application in a wider range of consumption contexts with a broader range of participants. The vision of a sustainable future provides a blueprint that identifies its nature, and the basis upon which decisions to achieve it can be made. Originality/value The research introduces the technique of backcasting and demonstrates its usefulness when dealing with complex problems, where there is a need for radical change and when the status quo is not sustainable. Unexpectedly, results suggest a commitment to prosocial values, collaborative experience, collective action and the importance of community. Research and social implications demonstrating the usefulness of backcasting will encourage its application in a wider range of consumption contexts with a broader range of participants. The vision of a sustainable future provides a blueprint that identifies its nature, and the basis upon which decisions to achieve it can be made.

Average Worn Profile of Tires in Europe

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Biesse ◽  
Jérôme Mahé ◽  
Nicolas Lévy
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Measurement Process ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Wear Performance ◽  
Usual Behavior ◽  
Wear Tests ◽  
Pattern Width

ABSTRACT Tire tread wear is a key issue in the tire development process and for tire customers. In order to measure the wear performance, tire manufacturers usually proceed to wear tests and calculate the tire life from those tests. An important point in this tire life computation is the criteria chosen for defining the tire's end of life. In Europe, there is a legal minimum tread depth set to 1.6 mm applicable to 75% of the tread pattern width. However, outside those 75% (i.e., on the shoulder part), no clear and shared limit is defined. Also, the usual behavior of customers to decide when their tires should be changed is not well known. The goal of this 2012 study was to identify an average worn profile of tires in Europe and the behavior of customers for replacing their tires. For that, 3000 tires worn out by customers have been collected in scrapyards and measured in five European countries. In this article, we will present the tire collecting method, the measurement process, the analysis method, and some general results and statistics on this 3000 tire database. Finally, the method to compute the average end of life profile and the resulting profile is given.

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ASPECTS AND APPROACHES

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
JAVED ALAM SHEIKH
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
World Population ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Map ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status

Almost 50 per cent of the world population is constituted by the women and they have been making substantial contribution to socio-economic development. But, unfortunately their tremendous contribution remains unrecognized and unnoticed in most of the developing and least developed countries causing the problem of poverty among them. Empowering women has become the key element in the development of an economy. With women moving forward, the family moves, the village moves and the nation moves. Hence, improving the status of women by way of their economic empowerment is highly called for. Entrepreneurship is a key tool for the economic empowerment of women around the world for alleviating poverty. Entrepreneurship is now widely recognized as a tool of economic development in India also. In this paper I have tried to discuss the reasons and role of Women Entrepreneurship with the help of Push and Pull factors. In the last I have also discussed the problems and the road map of Women Entrepreneurs development in India.

Product development in Islamic finance and banking in secular economies

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1665-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Dinc
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Islamic Financial Institutions ◽  
Conceptual Research ◽  
Source Materials ◽  
Vital Element

Purpose As the global paradigm in economics shifts, Islamic economics is attracting more attention as an alternative sector. The most common and most active institutional structure of Islamic economics is in the form of Islamic finance and banking. Islamic finance and banking have been the centre of innovation in many economies in recent years. In this regard, product development is a vital element in driving the success of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs). The product development of IFIs is one of the key elements of their overall economic performance. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature concerning the product development process of IFIs in secular economies. Design/methodology/approach Verily, product development is a complex process; it is likely that introducing specific models will be useful for expanding the activities of IFIs. In this study, contemporary source materials are used to develop this conceptual research. Findings It suggests two separate methodologies for the product development process of IFIs in secular economies to overhaul two criticised product-based problems. To the best of the author’s knowledge, it is the first attempt to model the product development process for IFIs in a secular economic setup. Originality/value Recently, this study is the first attempt for modelling product development in IFIs under secular economies. Advances in the field of Shari’ah-compliant product development is important for researchers and professional.

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