Asylum, welfare and work: reflections on research in asylum and refugee studies

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 375-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Mayblin
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Economic Problem ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Forced Labour ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Over the past 30 years asylum has become an issue of great political significance, public interest and media coverage in most “Western” countries. Policies and laws designed to deal with asylum seekers have proliferated, as have the resources required to manage them. These developments have come as a result of the rise of asylum as a social, political and economic “problem” which is seen to necessitate urgent action. Within this context, some countries, such as Britain, have sought to limit asylum seekers’ social and economic rights. In Britain specifically this has involved making paid employment illegal for asylum seekers, and in the process making the government liable for the living costs of such individuals – creating a situation of forced welfare dependency. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a review of research into work and welfare policy relating to asylum seekers in Britain. The paper focuses particularly on three key issues which are affected by asylum policies relating to work and welfare. These have all received particular scholarly attention in recent years: destitution, illegal working and forced labour, and the impact on integration outcomes. Findings – In the final section the author proposes some directions for future research. Originality/value – The review is, of course, not exhaustive, but does provide an overview of key themes in the literature and should be of interest to scholars interested in the politics, sociology and social policy of asylum.

Understanding firm survival in a global crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uday Salunkhe ◽  
Bharath Rajan ◽  
V. Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Marketing Research ◽  
Firm Survival ◽  
Consumer Response ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Churn ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

PurposeGlobal crises create an environment that is characterized by a fight for survival by countries, companies and citizens. While firms have adopted business initiatives to ensure survival in a global crisis, many measures are geared toward preventing customer churn, declining revenues and eroding market share. Such short-term focus raises an important question regarding long-term survival – how can firms survive a global crisis? The purpose of this study is to investigate how firms can survive a global crisis.Design/methodology/approachThis study considers pandemics as the study context and uses a triangulation methodology (past research, managerial insights and popular press articles) to advance the organizing framework. Using the process study approach, the proposed framework recognizes the onset characteristics of a global crisis with a focus on pandemics and the government actions that reflect the pandemic onset. The framework also identifies a logical order of three marketplace reactions to the pandemic – management response, consumer response and critical business transformations that ultimately lead to firm survival – and advances related research propositions of such reactions.FindingsBy deploying critical business transformations, firms can ensure firm survival in a pandemic by fostering engagement with customers, employees and resources. Additionally, the moderators that influence the relationships between (1) management response and critical business transformations, (2) consumer response and critical business transformations, and (3) critical business transformations and firm survival are identified. Finally, this study presents an agenda for future research.Research limitations/implicationsTo the authors' best knowledge, this is the first study to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to study firm survival in a global crisis such as a pandemic. This study answers the call for more research to the growing field of pandemic research in the areas of marketing research and marketing strategy.Practical implicationsThe learnings from this study can help firms on what to anticipate and how to respond in a crisis such as a pandemic.Social implicationsSocietal welfare is accounted for as firms plan to deal with a crisis.Originality/valueThis is the first study to propose a strategic framework to deal with a crisis that is largely unanticipated where the duration and the impact is not predictable.

Involuntary disclosure of intellectual capital: is it relevant?

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Dumay ◽  
James Guthrie
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Good ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Impact ◽  
A Company ◽  
Share Value

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an exploratory essay evaluating whether involuntary intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) is value relevant to stakeholders. The authors define involuntary disclosure as “what external stakeholders and stakeseekers disclose about a company”. This essay is timely because it lays the foundations for future ICD research that departs from traditional analyses of corporate reports, especially annual reports. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a critical reflection on current and future developments in ICD research. The normative arguments rely on the experience and expertise along with examples from the ICD literature and contemporary business media to critique existing ICD research and practice and to offer new ways forward for future research. Findings In highlighting the limitations of the traditional ICD literature, the authors provide a foundation from which researchers should contemplate a powerful new force in ICD brought about by the rapid transformation in technologies and forces of mass communication. The authors introduce the concept of “involuntary disclosure”, and highlight several key issues that intellectual capital (IC) researchers should consider if they want their academic endeavours to contribute not only to practice, but to a wider environmental and social good. Practical implications Involuntary disclosures produced by stakeholders and stakeseekers introduce opportunities and threats to organisations, bringing new risks that impact share value and reputations. How well organisation manage these risks, and the impact inside and outside organisational boundaries, to provide economic, environmental and social value, should provide ample fuel for future transformational IC research. Originality/value The most value relevant disclosures are not what an organisation discloses or reports about itself, but rather what stakeholders and stakeseekers communicate. However, how reliable are involuntary disclosures and how can stakeholders and organisations verify IC disclosures coming from outside the organisation? If involuntary IC disclosures are value relevant, how might organisations seek to influence and manage them to serve their ends?

Government and innovation performance: evidence from the ICT enterprising community

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herolinda Murati-Leka ◽  
Besnik Fetai
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ict Companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper will be on finding and analyzing the impact of government on the information and communication technology (ICT) companies’ innovation performance. The study aims to conduct in-depth research about the government as an integrated actor of the innovation ecosystem (IE), not a sole member. This would be the core finding toward doing further research about the impact of the innovation ecosystem in the ICT sector in Kosovo. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research has been considered the most suitable data collection method. Furthermore, in this study, it is used convenience sampling as a technique of the sampling process. The sample size of this study is 106 participants. The participants are owners or representatives of ICT companies in Kosovo. Since the study is conducted using the deductive approach, the questionnaire is considered to be the most suitable instrument for gathering data. Findings This paper provides empirical insights that the company’s size and the dedicated department for research and development have no impact on how the company takes advantage of public funding from the government. Furthermore, the authors of the paper found out that government has a positive impact on companies’ introduction of new products and services, while the impact of the government on a company’s financial performance was insignificant. Research limitations/implications The future research direction should be firstly on studying other IE actors and their impact on companies’ innovation performance and secondly on measuring the IE actors as a set of actors to have a broader picture on how IE impacts the companies’ innovation performance. Practical implications The scientific contribution of this study will be on mapping, analyzing and proposing government policies in accordance with the findings of this study that would lead to a more comprehensive and sustainable IE in Kosovo. Originality/value This study tries to fulfill an identified need to study the impact of interconnected actors of an innovation ecosystem and to show how they affect each other. In this study, it is taken for research one fragment of a set of actors.

Media attention and corporate disaster relief: evidence from China

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Ouyang ◽  
Jiuchang Wei ◽  
Yu Xiao ◽  
Fei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Yushu Earthquake ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chinese Search Engine

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of media attention on corporate disaster relief. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a matched sample research design, which is considered more appropriate than a random sample design for studying events that have low-occurrence rates in general. For each donor firm in the Yushu earthquake, the authors matched the firm with a non-donor firm in the same industry and with a firm size of within ±30 percent of the total assets in the year prior to the year of the occurrence of the Yushu earthquake. Then, using the Baidu engine, which is the most popular Chinese search engine, the authors captured the online media attention to the donor firms and their disaster relief. Findings The authors found that media attention drove corporate disaster relief. Research limitations/implications Although the authors highlighted the role of the media as an important stakeholder in influencing corporate disaster relief, the authors did not fully explore the media’s influence. Future research should delve more deeply into the impact of the tenor of media coverage on corporate disaster relief. Originality/value This study reveals that the media, a particularly powerful stakeholder, can be a corporate disaster relief driver in China.

AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: a tool to revive Uttar Pradesh handloom sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabiha Khatoon ◽  
Ayesha Iffat
Keyword(s):  
Economic Condition ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
The State ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The study aims to analyse the challenges faced by the Indian Handloom Sector with a special focus on the state of Uttar Pradesh before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study further explores the benefits of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for the betterment of the livelihood of the COVID-19–hit handloom weavers and allied workers. Design/methodology/approach A total of 400 handloom weavers and allied workers from ten cities of Uttar Pradesh were contacted through telephone. Descriptive statistics were applied to measure the awareness about the government welfare schemes and the benefits of these schemes. Furthermore, satisfaction and opinion of the handloom weavers and allied workers regarding the benefits and sufficiency of the funds received under these schemes have also been measured. Findings Based on the results, the least awareness has been noted about government welfare schemes. However, a small number of weavers and allied workers were found beneficiaries of the schemes. Additionally, the majority of the respondents were found dissatisfied with the benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic is an addendum to the plight of handloom weavers and allied workers. The measures of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan could be used to aid weavers and allied workers to restore their lost revenue. Research limitations/implications This study has limitations. Firstly, the research is limited to the handloom industry of Uttar Pradesh. Future researchers could consider the handloom sector of other states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, known for hand-woven clothes. Secondly, this study aims to analyse the role of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in improving the living conditions of handloom weavers and allied workers and not to measure the impact of the Abhiyan on handloom weavers or the handloom sector. Researchers could measure the impact in future studies. Thirdly, the authors have not applied any behavioural theory or marketing models such as the Theory of Reasoned Action or the Blackwell model, which may be applied to study the attitude of handloom weavers towards welfare schemes. This may prove to be a potential direction for future research. Additionally, master weavers and handloom cooperatives societies were excluded while collecting the data. Future researchers could consider them to examine the role of the government’s welfare schemes for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the handloom weavers, allied workers, master weavers and the business of cooperative societies. Finally, due to lockdown and travel ban, the authors were forced to limit their survey to telephone only because of which they could not get the qualitative information in full. Researchers for future studies could visit the handloom concentrated areas personally or take the help of an enumerator for data collection. Practical implications The research holds significance for the young and competent designers, handloom weavers and allied workers. Designers could work with and hire handloom weavers of Uttar Pradesh. If designers and weavers work together, it will help them restore their business and generate revenue that they have lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, policymakers can collaborate with designers, which will help enhance the socio-economic condition of handloom weavers and allied workers, which has deteriorated due to the COVID-19 crisis. Originality/value The research holds significance from the point of view of exploring the challenges faced by handloom weavers and allied workers of the state of UP before and during the COVID-19 period while examining the role of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in setting off these challenges.

Analysis of latent impeding factors to solar photovoltaic investments in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mensah Sackey ◽  
De-Graft Owusu-Manu ◽  
Richard Ohene Asiedu ◽  
Adam Braimah Jehuri
Keyword(s):  
Source Area ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Multiple Indicators ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Ghana has recently reviewed its renewable energy Act 835 with an objective of providing 10% of its energy from renewables by 2020 (Ackah and Asomani, 2015). Meanwhile, solar Photovoltaic (PV) accounts for less than 2% of the energy mix (Energy Commission, 2018). In combating environmental issues such as climate change and meeting these policy targets, there is the urgent need to increase investment into the renewable sector. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impeding constraints to photovoltaic investment in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach The Literature evaluation was carried out of critical constraints surrounding PV investments. Questionnaire was developed and administered online using Google form. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the features of each constraint. In addition, inferential analysis using relative importance index was used to rank these indicators. Again, one sample t-test was used to test the significance of the indicator. Multiple indicators were used to measure the latent constructs. Finally, independent test of mean equity was used to test relationship between the working experiences of despondence who have worked with solar PV below five years and those who worked from five years to ten years. Findings The research has highlights high installation and maintenance costs, lack of access to long-term capital finance, access to affordable consumer finance and lack of support to research and development as the major investment obstacles to solar PV investment in Ghana. Research limitations/implications It is recommended that the Government of Ghana should provide incentives such as tax waivers, which will encourage entrepreneurs, invest into PV. In addition, it is recommended that solar PV companies must collaborate with financial institutions to provide low interest and flexible consumer financing schemed that can enable home users to purchase the technology. Future research should complement this work by focusing on the impact of domestic currency volatility on PV investment. The scope of this study is constrained to the PV industry in Ghana. Practical implications This study will serve as a guide to the private sector business owners to help make critical PV investment decisions. It has also brought to the forefront the reason why solar PV account for a small fraction of Ghana’s energy mix. Originality/value This paper seeks to espouse the prevailing constraints to PV investment in Ghana and seeks to contribute to already existing literature that will make profound changes in state policy around PV investment. By understanding these difficulties, driving pointers can be recognized to encourage effective future venture inside the sustainable power source area. In this way, the research leads to a better understanding of the impeding factors that hinders PV investment in Ghana. Again, the paper has achieved new discovery with regards to variations between years of experience with PV use. The variation being less than five years with over five years of PV use. By understanding these difficulties, driving pointers can be recognized to invigorate effective future ventures.

Lies, brands and social media

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Tuten ◽  
Victor Perotti
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Sentiment Analysis ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Future Research ◽  
False Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
Media Sentiment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
False Claim

Purpose The purpose of this study is to illustrate the influence of media coverage and sentiment about brands on user-generated content amplification and opinions expressed in social media. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-method approach, using a brand situation as a case example, including sentiment analysis of social media conversations and sentiment analysis of media coverage. This study tracks the diffusion of a false claim about the brand via online media coverage, subsequent spreading of the false claim via social media and the resulting impact on sentiment toward the brand. Findings The findings illustrate the influence of digital mass communication sources on the subsequent spread of information about a brand via social media channels and the impact of the social spread of false claims on brand sentiment. This study illustrates the value of social media listening and sentiment analysis for brands as an ongoing business practice. Research limitations/implications While it has long been known that media coverage is in part subsequently diffused through individual sharing, this study reveals the potential for media sentiment to influence sentiment toward a brand. It also illustrates the potential harm brands face when false information is spread via media coverage and subsequently through social media posts and conversations. How brands can most effectively correct false brand beliefs and recover from negative sentiment related to false claims is an area for future research. Practical implications This study suggests that brands are wise to use sentiment analysis as part of their evaluation of earned media coverage from news organizations and to use social listening as an alert system and sentiment analysis to assess impact on attitudes toward the brand. These steps should become part of a brand’s social media management process. Social implications Media are presumed to be impartial reporters of news and information. However, this study illustrated that the sentiment expressed in media coverage about a brand can be measured and diffused beyond the publications’ initial reach via social media. Advertising positioned as news must be labeled as “advertorial” to ensure that those exposed to the message understand that the message is not impartial. News organizations may inadvertently publish false claims and relay information with sentiment that is then carried via social media along with the information itself. Negative information about a brand may be more sensational and, thus, prone to social sharing, no matter how well the findings are researched or sourced. Originality/value The value of the study is its illustration of how false information and media sentiment spread via social media can ultimately affect consumer sentiment and attitude toward the brand. This study also explains the research process for social scraping and sentiment analysis.

A critical examination of implementing government sponsored intellectual capital management and reporting programs for small and medium enterprises

VINE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Tee Jeok Inn ◽  
John Dumay ◽  
Katsuhiko Kokubu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This study aims to examine the impact of implementation of government-sponsored intellectual capital (IC) management and reporting (ICMR) programmes in Hong Kong and Japan for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the purpose of issuing an IC statement (ICS). Design/methodology/approach – The authors present a critical analysis using semi-structured interviews with employees and owners of Hong Kong and Japanese SMEs who participated in their respective government’s ICMR programmes and who published an ICS. Findings – The authors conclude that many enterprises did not achieve the full benefit of participating in the ICMR programme because consultants funded by the government prepared the ICS. Instead, consultants should take on more of a “missionary” role, educating enterprises about IC, rather than doing the work for them. Research limitations/implications – This research is restricted to enterprises that published one or more ICS. Future research should include enterprises participating in the ICMR programme that failed to publish an ICS. Practical implications – Enterprises that are able to utilise IC in their daily business routine will think IC is useful and continue using it. Conversely, those enterprises that relied on consultants to prepare the ICS will not understand its benefits. Originality/value – Policymakers should not solely concentrate on creating new IC reporting frameworks or guidelines for enterprises to follow because this focus limits the understanding of how enterprises can utilise IC concepts with the consequence that they may eventually give up on IC reporting.

Demographic factors as determinants of e-governance adoption

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alaa Aldin Abdul Rahim A. Al Athmay
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to measure the impact of demographic factors as determinants of citizens’ perceptions toward two dimensions of e-governance, namely: e-openness and e-participation. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was administered to collect data from three locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Demographic data were analyzed to test two dimensions, namely: e-openness and e-participation of e-governance underpinning five demographic variables. More specifically t-test and the Scheffe method of multiple comparisons were conducted on a sample of 1,500 respondents to measure the significance of gender, age, educational level, nationality and type of employment in relation to the aforementioned dimensions of e-governance. Findings – Findings indicate that, with the exception of nationality, all other demographic variables including gender, age, education and type of employment clearly explain differences among the respondents of e-governance. Furthermore, our findings suggest that respondents perceive moderate satisfaction with one dimension, namely, e-openness, but less satisfaction with the other dimension of e-governance, namely: e-participation. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited by the exclusive emphasis of the influence of five independent demographic factors on only two dimensions of e-governance. In addition, the sample represents highly educated and experienced respondents of Internet use and thus the results might be biased. Future studies may look beyond the demographic variables by evaluating UAE citizens’ attitudes and behavior towards the adoption of e-services. Furthermore, future research could be an in-depth examination, through focus groups, of the factors that impede an active interaction in the UAE. To overcome the possibility of biasness of the results, future work should include non-users and comparing the adoption behavior of online and offline users. Practical implications – The key findings are useful for policy-makers and decision-makers for a real understanding of the needs of the citizens and to re-conceptualize the government Web sites as an interactive channel of communication in enhancing transparency and participation and, therefore, to contribute to democratic process. Originality/value – The primary value of this research lies in extending the understanding of citizens’ perceptions of two dimensions of e-governance according to their demographic attributes. The two dimensions of e-governance identified in this study are neither studied before in the context of Arab countries nor explored in relation to the identified demographic variables. Furthermore, this study combines the two dimensions (e-openness and e-participation) and is in contrast with previous studies which examined these two dimensions separately.

A benchmarking study of Indian seaports

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-102
Author(s):  
Sajeev Abraham George ◽  
Anurag C. Tumma
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Port Authorities ◽  
Financial Performance Measures ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to benchmark the operational and financial performances of the major Indian seaports to help derive useful insights to improve their performance. Design/methodology/approach A two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology has been used with the help of data collected on the 13 major seaports of India. The first stage of the DEA captured the operational efficiencies, while the second stage the financial performance. Findings A window analysis over a period of three years revealed that no port was able to score an overall average efficiency of 100 per cent. The study identified the better performing units among their peers in both the stages. The contrasting results of the study with the traditional operational and financial performance measures used by the ports helped to derive useful insights. Research limitations/implications The data used in the study were majorly limited to the available sources in the public domain. Also, the study was limited to the major seaports which are under the Government of India and no comparisons were carried out with other local or international ports. Practical implications There is a need to prioritize investments and improvement efforts where they are most needed, instead of following a generalized approach. Once the benchmark ports are identified, the port authorities and other relevant stakeholders should work in detail on the factors causing inefficiencies, for possible improvements in performance. Originality/value This paper carried out a two-stage DEA that helped to derive useful insights on operational efficiency and financial performance of the India seaports. A combination of the financial and operational parameters, along with a comparison of the DEA results with the traditional measures, provided a different perspective on the Indian seaport performance. Considering the scarcity of research papers reported in the literature on DEA-based benchmarking studies of seaports in the Indian context, it has the potential to attract future research in this field.

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