Farmers’ usage preferences for Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-77
Author(s):  
Ildephonse Musafili ◽  
Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze ◽  
Fidèle Niyitanga ◽  
Dave Weatherspoon
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
High Income ◽  
Cultural Property ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conditional Logit ◽  
Behavior Characteristics ◽  
Management Preferences

Purpose Policymakers and stakeholders lack empirical evidence on the effectiveness of community participatory management for agribusiness development and environmental conservation. The purpose of this paper is to assess the management preferences, approaches and practices of farm communities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (VNP). Design/methodology/approach Primary data collected from 191 farmers were used. A choice experiment on current and potential park management practices and utilization levels was conducted along with a survey on socioeconomic, farm and institutional behavior characteristics. Findings Results show that farmers prefer preserving VNP resources for the production of agribusiness crops that are low input and environmental friendly and provide high income to farmers in addition to handcraft production to enhance cultural, plant and wild animal tourism development. Farmers highly value integrated stakeholder participatory decision making about the parks natural resources. High-income farmers prefer to restore traditional cultural heritage park sites for recreation, and ancestral intellectual and cultural property rights. Research limitations/implications The sample size limited the analysis to a conditional logit model. Originality/value This is the first study to assess the management preferences of farm communities in the VNP area.

scholarly journals Towards Stimulating Tools for Advancement of Environmental Conservation through Promoting of Psychological Instruments

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
Md. Rahimullah Miah ◽  
Mohamed Sharif Mustaffa ◽  
Samsiah Jayos ◽  
Nor Hasniah Ibrahim ◽  
Sopian Bujang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Conservation Psychology ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
Psychological Instruments

The explorative field observation on Environmental Conservation Psychology (ECP) is multi-diversified with collective and conjectural outlook. ECP provides a better understanding of the way in which conservation awareness, attitude, ethics, culture and well-being are affected by physical environments, social settings and built-in environment. The goal is to stimulate more attention be paid to ensure the effectiveness of environmental conservation and highlight psychological instruments required to develop new interdisciplinary approaches with innovative ways in prevailing challenges for the present and upcoming generations. Primary data were collected from a sample of respondents at the Lawachara National Park (LNP) in Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh and secondary data were obtained from diverse sources. The research denoted and investigated by various disciplines and fields including environmental behaviors studies, positive psychology, person-environment studies, human-nature science and ecological psychology. The study showed about 70% of indigenous respondents opined on positive attitudes for environmental conservation to compare with 55% in others. The study identified approximately 65% of respondents stated for development of environmental education among local communities for promoting positive psychology surrounding the national park. This study focuses the importance of understanding this multidimensional psychological research as it is to inform about the environmental conservation perspectives that have contributed to and shaped the learning with high internal conservation stability, dependability, uniformity, and attractiveness with social bonding at LNP. This study represents the environmental design, manage, protect and restore conserving of biodiversity towards national parks that influence human behavior, predict and the likely outcomes when these conditions are not met and diagnose problem situations. This study links at solving complex environmental conservation problems in the pursuit of individual well-being within a longer community through human-environment conservation interactions.

scholarly journals An exploratory study of financial well-being among Malaysian households

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-302
Author(s):  
Nurul Shahnaz Mahdzan ◽  
Rozaimah Zainudin ◽  
Mohd Edil Abd Sukor ◽  
Fauzi Zainir ◽  
Wan Marhaini Wan Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
High Income ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Future Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Perspectives

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the financial well-being (FWB) of Malaysian households and to construct a subjective FWB index with present and future time perspectives.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 1,867 respondents across five major regions in Malaysia. Adapting the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-being (IFDFW) Scale by Prawitz et al. (2006) and the method of computing an index by Devlin (2009), this study develops an FWB index using subjective measures that include future time perspectives (retirement). The index was employed to measure the FWB across low-, middle- and high-income groups and socio-demographic characteristics.FindingsThis study finds evidence that Malaysians' FWB is at an average level (46.8). Middle-income households' FWB (46.1) flanks between the financial well-being index (FWBI) levels of the low-income (37.4) and high-income households (58.7). Across age groups, education levels and employment sectors, the FWB of Malaysians significantly varies, although not across different ethnics, religions, zones and residential areas. Overall, the results suggest that the detrimental effects of FWB are perceived by all Malaysian households nationwide regardless of their religion, ethnicity and residential areas.Practical implicationsThe results of this study complement the other well-being indices used by policymakers and may serve as a useful input for government and policymakers for them to formulate appropriate strategies to promote higher FWB of Malaysian households based on their socio-demographic characteristics.Originality/valueThis study used primary data and developed a subjective FWB index that leverages on people's perceptions of their own financial well-being while including present and future time perspectives. The main contribution of this paper is to construct an index that is easily interpretable and that complements the existing FWB indices, and to identify the segments of society that have low vis-à-vis high FWB.

Sustainable development and spirituality: a critical analysis of GNH index

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1919-1939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanupriya Gupta ◽  
Rajat Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Cultural Preservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between sustainable development (SD) and spirituality. Bhutan, a country believing deeply in Buddhist spiritual values has created a model of Gross National Happiness (GNH) where it is believed that the holistic evolution of human being can take place with a balance of material as well as non-material aspects of spiritual, cultural, societal and environmental. The paper critically analyzes GNH to establish the role of spirituality in SD. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyses the GNH concept using literature review. Further, personal meetings with authorities in Bhutan and interaction with citizens of Bhutan used to gather primary data. A critical approach has been applied to understand the practical implication of the concept. Findings Good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation formed the four basic pillars of the GNH index, further elaborated into 9 domains and 33 clustered indicators. The concept has been commendable in giving new direction to the understanding of SD. Nevertheless, certain discrepancies create ambiguity and limitations around the validity of adoption of the concept in other countries. Research limitations/implications A balanced and holistic, yet practical model of SD is necessitated. Bhutan has been a pioneer to suggest the different dimensions that can be acted upon to produce a more honest and sustainable path of being in concord with nature, community and other-related surroundings. Practical implications The paper provides insights to researchers and practitioners in understanding the basic essentials required for the SD agenda. The paper derives the learnings from the GNH model which can help in understanding the areas where the western three-pillar model of development needs more refinement. At the same time, the paper also helps in creating the insights for Bhutanese practitioners and policymakers about the areas where the GNH model still needs to be worked upon to improve its efficacy. Originality/value The paper proposes that SD can only be achieved through spirituality.

Assessment of healthcare solid waste management practices for environmental performance: a study of hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Thakur ◽  
Somesh Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Himachal Pradesh ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Waste Management Practices

PurposeThe day-by-day escalating quantity of healthcare waste (HCW), has made waste handling and management a challenging issue for ensuring environmental quality. Developing nations like India face huge difficulties in handling healthcare solid wastes (HCSW) because of the extra population burden. Hence, the present study seeks to evaluate the role of various stakeholders, under the following four performance areas: “collection and segregation of HCSW,” “storage and transportation of HCSW,” “special measures for handling HCSW” and ‘awareness among the various stakeholders of handling and managing the HCSW.”Design/methodology/approachThe study targets the primary data from 323 stakeholders across 35 hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, India, to assess the environmental awareness level among various stakeholders. Data were analyzed using preliminary descriptive statistics, and further statistical testing was done using one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 20.0.FindingsResults highlight that most hospitals lack the following areas: segregation of HCSW, marking of zones and bags carrying infectious HCSWs, inadequate transportation facilities, bad handling and storage practices and recycling without chemical disinfection.Practical implicationsThe study's findings will help the hospitals' administration and State Pollution Control Board to design training programs for all the stakeholders involved in managing HCSW. The proper recycling of the HCSW will reduce the adverse environmental impact and ensure the environmental quality within the hospitals and surroundings. The preparation of appropriate policy for the collection, storage and transportation of HCSW from the hospitals to the treatment centers will ensure the cleaner delivery of healthcare services to society.Originality/valueThe present study is the first of its kind, where the primary data were collected from the various stakeholders involved in the handling of HCSW at various healthcare establishments (HCEs) in Himachal Pradesh, India.

The relationship between credit risk management and non-performing assets of commercial banks in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirus Sharifi ◽  
Arunima Haldar ◽  
S.V.D. Nageswara Rao
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Credit Risk ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Credit Risk Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indian Economy ◽  
Indian Banks ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of credit risk components on the performance of credit risk management and the growth in non-performing assets (NPAs) of commercial banks in India. Design/methodology/approach The data are obtained from primary and secondary sources. The primary data are collected by administering questionnaire among risk managers of Indian banks. The secondary data on NPAs of Indian banks are from annual reports and Prowess database compiled by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. Multiple linear regression is used to estimate the models for the study. Findings The results suggest that the identification of credit risk significantly affects the credit risk performance. The results are robust as credit risk identification is negatively related to annual growth in NPAs or loans. There is evidence in support of a priori expectation of better credit risk performance of private banks compared to that of government banks. Practical implications The study has implications for Indian banks suffering from a high level of losses due to bad loans. In addition, it will have implications for the implementation of new Basel Accord norms (Basel III) by the Reserve Bank of India. Social implications The high and rising level of NPAs will have adverse consequences for credit flow in the economy in the absence of appropriate intervention by government and central bank in the form of changes in institutional and regulatory infrastructure. The problems in banking and financial services sector will lead to lower industrial and aggregate economic growth, and lower (or negative) growth in employment. Originality/value There is little evidence on credit risk management practices of Indian banks, and its relationship with credit risk performance and NPA growth. The need for an effective risk management system to manage credit risk assumes importance and urgency in the context of high and rising NPAs of Indian banks, and the consequences for the Indian economy.

Building, leading, and sustaining a cultural enterprise: Martin Guitar in 2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-336
Author(s):  
Roland J. Kushner
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Fourth Decade ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Owned Company

Theoretical basis The case includes theoretical references to family business, organizational culture, resource-based value and leadership. Research methodology The case combines primary and secondary data. There is ample public information about Martin Guitar including histories of the company and its instruments. These were used for background. Primary data were provided by the company in the form of customized data and interviews.. The case writer has served Martin Guitar as a consultant and also plays Martin instruments. The case writer had numerous opportunities to interview Chris and his key lieutenants. Case overview/synopsis In 2019, C.F. Martin IV (Chris) was in his fourth decade leading one of the America’s oldest family-owned companies, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. Martin Guitar is a globally known maker of fine guitars that are prized by collectors, working musicians and amateur musicians. Chris was raised in the family business and took on the CEO’s position at the age of 30. The case describes the company’s management practices and the culture that has emerged from them. In 2019, at age 64, Chris confronted issues faced by his predecessors over multiple generations: how to prepare the company for succession, and maintain its strong performance as a family-owned company in a dynamic industry environment. Complexity academic level The case is designed for a management course for upper-level undergraduates.

Valuing biodiversity of Dachigam National Park: a choice experiment application

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1569-1585
Author(s):  
Mohammad Younus Bhat ◽  
M.S. Bhatt ◽  
Arfat Ahmad Sofi
Keyword(s):  
Logit Model ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
National Park ◽  
Conditional Logit Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biological Resources ◽  
Conditional Logit ◽  
Park Area ◽  
Dachigam National Park ◽  
Research And Education

PurposeBiodiversity loss has become widespread since current rates are potentially catastrophic for species and habitat integrity, and the Dachigam National Park in Jammu and Kashmir (India) is not a distinctive case. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to elicit the willingness to pay (WTP) for biodiversity conservation of the Park.Design/methodology/approachA survey-based choice experiment method was carried out at the Dachigam National Park, an area that is threatened by several anthropogenic pressures. Attributes selected for analysis through choice experiments were endangered species, national park area, research and education opportunities the park withholds. To estimate WTP, a monetary variable involving an increase in entry fee was also incorporated. To obtain the estimates, the authors use the augmented conditional logit model.FindingsWTP for the selected attributes per visitor turned out to be ₹302.07 for enhancing the population of endangered species, ₹121.91 for improvement in the park area and ₹171.64 for increasing research and education opportunities the park withholds.Research limitations/implicationsThough the study uncovers very important aspects of evaluating the biological resources, albeit with some limitations. The study estimates WTP for biodiversity conservation using a conditional logit model, which is based on a specific area and population sample. It would be better if a broader sample is considered to trace out the findings for meaningful generalization. Besides, the results can be replicated for similar kinds of samples.Practical implicationsWith the use of benefits transfer method, this study aims to provide policymakers with useful information to manage biodiversity attributes across the Himalayan region.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this study is to provide a critical understanding of the valuation to facilitate the concerned body for better planning and management of biological resources. The findings of the present study can be used as an indicator of the inherent economic importance of biological resources across the Himalayan range for their better management and conservation that can help in ensuring sustainable utilization of these resources.

Analyzing the “energy-efficiency gap”

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanupriya Bhardwaj ◽  
Eshita Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
High Income ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Efficiency Gap ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Efficiency Gap

Purpose The key purpose of this paper is to quantify the size of the energy-efficiency gap (EEG) for air conditioners at the household level in Delhi. Most of the studies in the EEG tradition broadly define EEG as the difference between the actual and optimal level of energy efficiency. The optimal level of energy efficiency is defined at the societal level (that weigh social costs against social benefits) and the private level (that weigh private costs against private benefits). Design/methodology/approach The authors base the empirical results in this study on the basis of the primary data collected through in-person interviews of the high-income urban households in Delhi in 2014-2015. The sample of 101 households was collected through purposive random sampling. The survey data include information on type and number of AC possessed, hours of operations, socioeconomic characteristics and awareness and habits of households. Findings Using primary data of 101 high-income urban household, the paper finds that average EEG is about 10 per cent of total electricity demand of ACs at the household level. The maximum current saving potential measured as a difference between hypothetical energy consumption, if everyone adopts five star ACs, and actual energy consumption is estimated about 14 per cent of the total electricity demand of ACs. Results from the ordinary least squares regressions demonstrate that individual’s habits, attitude, awareness of energy-efficiency measures and perceptions significantly determine the size of the EEG. Among other things, authors’ empirical analysis shows that information can play a central role in guiding investment in energy-efficient technologies. From the analysis of improving access to understandable information about cost savings, payback period and emission reduction, it is found that full information leads to the significant reduction in the size of the expected private energy-efficiency gap from 10 to 2.98 per cent at the household level. Research limitations/implications This paper tests the significance of non-economic and non-social factors in determining the size of the EEG. Apart from socioeconomic factors such as income, occupation and education, individual’s energy-conserving habits and attitudes, awareness of energy-efficiency measures and perceptions are other important factors found to have a significant negative impact on the size of the EEG. This is particularly important for the designing of information programs by policymakers for promoting energy-efficiency choices in view of the change that is required in the behavior and attitudes of the households. Originality/value In this study, authors try to estimate the size of the EEG of ACs for the high-income urban households in Delhi. The private energy-efficiency gap estimated at 10 per cent of the household demand for ACs indicates existing saving opportunity for the private households. It is found that provision of comprehensive information about cost savings, payback period and emission reduction reduces the size of the EEG significantly from 10 to 2.72 per cent at the private level. This highlights the existence of limited and incomplete information in the market about the possible costs and benefits of energy-efficiency investments. This paper tests the significance of non-economic and non-social factors in determining the size of the energy-efficiency gap. Apart from socioeconomic factors such as income, occupation and education, individual’s energy-conserving habits and attitudes, awareness of energy-efficiency measures and perceptions are other important factors found to have a significant negative impact on the size of the EEG. This is particularly important for the designing of information programs by policymakers for promoting energy-efficiency choices in view of the change that is required in the behavior and attitudes of the households.

Innovation in talent management practices: creating an innovative employer branding strategy to attract generation Z

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Pandita
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Employer Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Generation Z

Purpose This research paper focuses on the arriving new generation, “Gen Z,” and how an organization can target this new talent through innovation in its employer branding. This paper aims to enhance the readers’ understanding of how generation Z is different from the previous generations and their unique preferences. This study also attempts to probe and help readers understand innovative practices in employer branding and what tools can be used under this umbrella to influence and attract the increasing workforce of generation Z to the labor market. Design/methodology/approach There were 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews taken from human resources (HR) heads of various organizations, a few mid-managers, consultants and HR experts based in India. Each interview was transcribed, and a technique of inductive content analysis was used. Broad themes and several new items emerged that looked at innovation in employer branding. Findings It was found through this study that Gen Z has high career aspirations, working styles, attributes, education preferences and has an innovative mindset. This demands a flexibility of being independent and confident. They prefer diversity not just through race and gender but also through identity and orientation. Most important, money is not the only priority for them when it comes to their career development. They also want themselves to be associates with a workplace exhibiting community support. They are driven by an innovative mindset where they resort to creative means to achieve their goals. Research limitations/implications The research paper is exploratory. The model and hypotheses the author arrives at must be verified empirically by collecting primary data through validated instruments by the relevant stakeholders in the organization, specifically the stakeholders specializing in the domain of talent acquisition and talent management, to add additional weight and meaning to the literature. Practical implications As the members of Gen Z are about to step into the labor market, the proposed finding in this research paper would help current industrial practitioners rethink how they will design their policies to entice and integrate Gen Z into the workplace. Originality/value Realizing that companies’ experience with millennials’ entry into the workforce might not have prepared them to win with Gen Z, the author has examined what makes Gen Z different from earlier cohorts on how do they approach the workplace. Understanding the unique behavioral differences, the author has proposed organizations’ practices to appeal to them to work with them. Adding to the existing literature on “Generation Z” and “Employer Branding,” the author has linked both in the paper with a qualitative study and proposed a model to build Generation Z’s employer brand.

Maintenance management system (MMS) to support facilities management at Malaysian polytechnic

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Relational Databases ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Complaints ◽  
Defect Assessment ◽  
Conventional Methods

Purpose Conventional methods practiced by the Development and Facilities Management Unit (UPPF) have faced issues due to management deficiencies and incompetent staff members who were unable to handle facilities management assessment processes at Malaysian Polytechnics. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The prime objective of this paper is to improve the conventional methods which tend to be both cumbersome and ineffective in the UPPF Maintenance Management Systems (MMSs) at Malaysian Polytechnics. Primary data were gathered through interviews to develop the proposed system. Eight Polytechnics were selected based on major problems arising from using conventional methods. A comparison was then conducted to investigate the maintenance management practices at each Polytechnic. There are around 32 Polytechnics in Malaysia and most are using conventional methods. Findings The major conclusion drawn from the interview results was that comprehensive MMSs are lacking, specifically those that integrate operation and maintenance (O&M) processes of facilities management and software programming that provides guidelines for decision-making processes. The interview results also revealed irregularities within the Malaysian Polytechnics’ maintenance management database. This paper explores the concepts of Electronic Form Defect Assessment (E-Form Defect Assessment), relational databases and online customer complaints to adapt their role as dynamic maintenance management tools. Originality/value The paper concludes that the developed system is able to accommodate recording of data, such as complaints and specific items needed for maintenance, through the internet and intranet. MMSs potentially transform facilities management O&M processes into one of the most sophisticated technologies by providing access to all information published by each Malaysian Polytechnic institution. This technology was established in order to foster financial cooperation with the idea being that Polytechnics which compete with one another become financially interdependent with the goal of promoting successful facilities management in the construction of new facilities and infrastructure.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document