scholarly journals Cultural politics of enterprise lending and controls in closely held banks

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candauda Arachchige Saliya ◽  
Kelum Jayasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Politics ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Bank Lending ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Five Cs ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the enterprise lending and control process in closely held banks, with special reference to Sri Lanka. It explores how those processes are being influenced by the distinctive cultural and political processes at organizational and societal levels. Design/methodology/approach The study relies on three cases built upon the life experiences of several employees in a closely held bank, articulating multiple sources of evidence: interviews, observations, documents, archival records, open-ended questionnaires, internet conversations and exchange of e-mails. The data analysis adopts cultural political economy theory. Findings The study’s findings reveal how cultural and political factors, such as egoistic motives and politics, gifts/rewards and a manipulative culture, along with exploitative and discriminatory politics at organizational and societal levels, articulate into the enterprise lending and control process (“five Cs”) in closely held banks. “Rational” enterprise lending and control processes in this context merely become a “ceremonial” practice, serving the petty interest of powerful capitalist business owners. Whereas previous studies emphasize that the criteria (five Cs) discriminate against ordinary people, as distinct from the élite, the findings of this study implicate that over and above that the criteria are set aside when it suits in order to favor or accommodate the élite. Originality/value The paper provides a “qualitative inquiry” on how cultural politics at organizational and societal-level effect on enterprise lending and control process within closely held banks in less developed countries (LDCs). The previous studies on bank lending and control used either large-scale surveys or alternatively devoted their interest toward the role and impact of accounting in World Bank and IMF-led lending schemes and policies, particularly in LDCs.

Corporate social responsibility of mining industries

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepankar Sharma ◽  
Priya Bhatnagar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the community development approaches of large-scale mining companies, with particular reference to how they may engender community dependency. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with a review of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the mining industry, corporate community initiatives and the problem of mining dependency at a national, regional and local levels. Findings – It outlines some of the reasons why less-developed countries (LDCs) experience under-development and detrimental effects as a result of their linkages with industrialized countries. LDCs are not able to take advantage of advanced technology and management skills due to being relatively poor in capital and skills, and foreign technologies compete unfairly with and destroy local production techniques, creating a pool of unemployable “marginalized” people. Holder’s of investments in LDCs demand annual returns for continued support – profits are taken out of the country or guaranteed by tax concessions. Unwillingness of foreign firms to train local people to take over management positions. Originality/value – This paper explores how the need to address sustainability issues has affected communities, and whether community development initiatives have been effective in contributing to more sustainable communities.

Tackling the challenges of reducing and managing food waste in Mumbai restaurants

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jehangir Bharucha
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Restaurant Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
A Value ◽  
Research Population ◽  
Restaurant Owners

Purpose Around 67 million tons of food is wasted in India every year, which has a value of more than US$14 billion (Haq, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to concentrate on one major source to which the current massive proportion of wastage can be attributed: restaurants. It investigates the statistics, the problem at large, how the restaurants are handling it and recommends ways to better manage the issue. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative inquiry has been used. The research population for this study consisted of 63 restaurant owners across Mumbai city and its suburbs. In-depth discussions were held with these restaurant owners/managers in various matters of interest to this study. Findings The group of restaurateurs opined that the solution to Mumbai’s restaurants waste management lies in micro management rather than large scale plans. In total, 75 percent of the restaurants have 10-20 percent extra preparation. High-end fine-dining restaurants make even more additional preparations and are the ones more receptive to participating and also sensitive toward importance of waste management. Several of the restaurant owners claim that they can estimate the requirements on specific days of the week. In all, 18 percent of the restaurants surveyed claimed to have a complete dispose of policy. Majority of the restaurants have a clear policy to distribute the surplus food among their staff. Several other innovative strategies were shared. Research limitations/implications The restaurant owners/mangers may not have truthfully answered all questions. The participants might have the fear that the authorities would take cognizance of some of the practices that they are following and would have been guarded in their responses. There would always be a fear that the identities would not be kept confidential. Practical implications India as a country has been agriculture based for centuries and characterized by massive food production. Yet, people face rampant starvation and malnourishment. This arises to a large extent due to the colossal amounts of food wasted at marriages, restaurants and even by destruction of crops. Originality/value The restaurant industry is of critical importance to the Indian economy and while research in India has focused on overall food wastage, studies on restaurant food waste are lacking.

scholarly journals Taenia solium Cysticercosis and Its Impact in Neurological Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector H. Garcia ◽  
Armando E. Gonzalez ◽  
Robert H. Gilman
Keyword(s):  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Brain Inflammation ◽  
Inflammation Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Molecular Assays ◽  
Genome Data ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
Neurological Morbidity ◽  
And Control

SUMMARY Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NCC) is endemic in most of the world and contributes significantly to the burden of epilepsy and other neurological morbidity. Also present in developed countries because of immigration and travel, NCC is one of few diseases targeted for eradication. This paper reviews all aspects of its life cycle (taeniasis, porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis), with a focus on recent advances in its diagnosis, management, and control. Diagnosis of taeniasis is limited by poor availability of immunological or molecular assays. Diagnosis of NCC rests on neuroimaging findings, supported by serological assays. The treatment of NCC should be approached in the context of the particular type of infection (intra- or extraparenchymal; number, location, and stage of lesions) and has evolved toward combined symptomatic and antiparasitic management, with particular attention to modulating inflammation. Research on NCC and particularly the use of recently available genome data and animal models of infection should help to elucidate mechanisms of brain inflammation, damage, and epileptogenesis.

Managing care integration during the implementation of large-scale reforms

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Dickinson ◽  
Gemma Carey
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Integration ◽  
Early Implementation ◽  
Commonwealth Government ◽  
Boundary Issues ◽  
And Control ◽  
Institutional Boundaries ◽  
Implementation Experience

Purpose The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new program for the provision of support to people with disabilities in Australia. The purpose of this paper is to explore the early implementation experience of this scheme, with a particular focus on the implications of this scheme for issues of care integration. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 policymakers in the Commonwealth government charged with the design and implementation of the NDIS. Findings The authors find somewhat of a lack of clarity concerning the boundaries of the NDIS and how it will work with a range of different services in the provision of seamless and consumer-directed care. Many of the same kinds of debates about interfaces with services were detected in this study as have been highlighted in relation to UK individual funding schemes. If the NDIS is truly to support individuals with disabilities to achieve choice and control, important work will need to be undertaken in to overcome organizational and institutional boundaries. Originality/value There is little empirical data relating to the implementation of the NDIS to date. This is the first study to explore boundary issues in relation to care integration.

scholarly journals Evaluation and control process in higher education institutions: a comparative analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-284
Author(s):  
Joaquim Mourato ◽  
Maria Teresa Patrício
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Control Processes ◽  
And Control

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the evaluation and control processes in the governance systems of higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach This study compares the performance and control processes of strategic management in four HEIs in two European countries with binary systems – Portugal and The Netherlands. Using a case study approach, the authors find that HEIs with different missions and contexts have performance and control systems that are generally indistinguishable. Findings The controlling strategies in the public HEIs have taken on isomorphic characteristics based on processes that enhance competition, decentralize functions and solidify performance management. Originality/value In this paper, the authors “unpackage” strategic management to focus on the forms of control associated with performance evaluation. Performance evaluation is central to the management process and increasingly assuming an integral part of the institution’s identity and culture.

Capturing digital developments through qualitative inquiry

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54
Author(s):  
Martha Kyrillidou ◽  
Colleen Cook ◽  
Sarah Lippincott
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Digital Content ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
The Public ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Access And Quality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a model of digital library (DL) work that surfaced through the ARL Profiles 2010 and resonates current work underway by the large-scale DL projects like DPLA, SHARE, Hathitrust, Academic Preservation Trust, and Digital Preservation Network. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 86 ARL members submitted institutional profiles that were analyzed using Atlas.ti and surfaced major themes that comprise the mission of research libraries including serving the public good, expanding their presence globally, setting standards for access and quality, needing to explore best practices, and being visible at the national and international levels. Findings – The analysis of the narratives identified three key areas for DL developments: first, digitized special collections, second, acquiring digital content, and third, developing digital services (Figure 1). Specific examples and context are provided in the paper. Research limitations/implications – The qualitative data collected from these profiles demonstrate that libraries are transforming their services to leverage digital technologies and meet the changing needs of their users. The approach was open ended and allowed libraries to celebrate their strengths and unique context. Some of the disadvantages of this approach include the amount of work both on behalf of the participating libraries as well as on behalf of the analysts and the difficulty of comparing libraries with one another. Originality/value – This was the first time ARL attempted to describe research libraries using narrative descriptions. The approach complements the traditional ARL Statistics and offers a viable alternative in a future environment that is dominated by radical change. This qualitative approach deployed here is critical for describing DL developments as current large-scale digitization projects have extended the directions that were surfacing in these profiles and have major implications for the future of digital content and research. Future research in this area is strongly encouraged.

scholarly journals Design and evaluation of mission-oriented sensing platform with military analogy

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-91
Author(s):  
Hikaru Inomoto ◽  
Sachio Saiki ◽  
Masahide Nakamura ◽  
Shinsuke Matsumoto
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Stream Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sensing Platform ◽  
Specific Device ◽  
Environmental Sensor ◽  
Good Order ◽  
Iot Devices ◽  
And Control ◽  
Multiple Missions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to perform large-scale environmental sensing with a lot of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, as typically seen in a Smart City, efficiently and for multiple applications. In this paper, we propose a novel sensing method, called mission-oriented sensing, which accepts multiple and dynamic sensing purposes on a single infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach The proposed method achieves the purpose by dealing sensing configuration (application’s purpose) as a mission. It realizes sharing single infrastructure by accepting multiple missions in parallel, and it accepts missions’ update anytime. In addition, the sensing platform based on military analogy can command and control a lot of IoT devices in good order, and this realizes mission-oriented sensing above. Findings Introducing mission-oriented sensing, multiple purpose large-scale sensing can be conducted efficiently. The experimental evaluation with a prototype platform shows the practical feasibility. In addition, the result shows that it is effective to update sensing configuration dynamically. Research limitations/implications The proposed method focuses aggregating environmental sensor value from a lot of devices, and, thus, it can treat stream data, such as video or audio or control a specific device directly. Originality/value In proposed method, a single-sensing infrastructure can be used by multiple applications, and it admits heterogeneous devices in a single infrastructure. In addition, the proposed method has less technical restriction and developers can implement actual platform with technologies for context.

Is tourism conducive to residents’ social trust? Evidence form large-scale social surveys

2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Strzelecka ◽  
Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Social Surveys ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Domestic Tourism

Purposes This paper aims to understand the character of the relationship between tourism growth and residents’ social trust. Design/methodology/approach The study uses large-scale data to model the effect of tourism on generalized trust attitudes Among advantages to analyzing data from large-scale social surveys, extensive content and representative coverage of the population are probably the most appealing. The broad coverage of the population of the large-scale social surveys allows for a broader generalization of the study results as well as comparison of areas with very different tourist activity. Findings This study offers two key findings. First, the effect of tourist arrivals (as per capita) on social trust attitudes is stronger in poorer regions than in wealthier regions. Second, only domestic tourism positively affects trust. Research limitations/implications This study delivered a straightforward analysis of large data to be able to generalize findings and make a significant theoretical contribution to tourism discipline. This goal was pursued at the expense of complex or in-depth explanation of the observed phenomenon. Practical implications Findings from this study indicate that there are at least two crucial criteria for tourism to be able to strengthen residents’ social trust. First, domestic tourism should be encouraged in destination regions in their early development stages and in more homogeneous regions. Perhaps, focus on domestic tourists before internationalization of a tourism product is the most effective way to promote tourism development that is supported by local residents. Second, tourism is likely to have stronger positive effect on social trust in poorer regions. Thus, tourism policy makers should take into consideration the actual economic need for tourism. Residents in wealthier regions may show less support for tourism simply because they don’t need it and they have no economic incentives to be involved. In fact, tourism in wealthier regions is likely to diminish residents’ social trust, and thus it disrupts local social and political processes that rely on high social trust. Originality/value Social trust is considered an important measure of social cohesion and it enables modern societies to thrive. Social trust has not been problematized in the context of contemporary tourism growth. This is the first study that uses large data social survey to model the effect of tourism on social trust in European destination regions.

Oil rush may destabilise Somali politics

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Debt Relief ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Signing Bonuses ◽  
And Control

Significance Although production is not expected for another decade or so, initial signing bonuses and speculative futures are already influencing domestic political processes as foreign and domestic actors position themselves to secure advantage, influence and control over the nascent sector. Impacts A rushed licensing process could undermine progress on debt relief, which includes clear benchmarks on oil legislation. Speculation will intensify confrontations with regional neighbours, especially Kenya, over transport corridors and maritime borders. A scramble for infrastructure and logistics contracts will blur the lines between development needs, security and geostrategic interests.

Deep reinforcement learning-based attitude motion control for humanoid robots with stability constraints

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Shi ◽  
Wangda Ying ◽  
Lei Lv ◽  
Jiajun Xie
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Control ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Humanoid Robots ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Training Samples ◽  
Attitude Controller ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
The Stability ◽  
And Control

Purpose This paper aims to present an intelligent motion attitude control algorithm, which is used to solve the poor precision problems of motion-manipulation control and the problems of motion balance of humanoid robots. Aiming at the problems of a few physical training samples and low efficiency, this paper proposes an offline pre-training of the attitude controller using the identification model as a priori knowledge of online training in the real physical environment. Design/methodology/approach The deep reinforcement learning (DRL) of continuous motion and continuous state space is applied to motion attitude control of humanoid robots and the robot motion intelligent attitude controller is constructed. Combined with the stability analysis of the training process and control process, the stability constraints of the training process and control process are established and the correctness of the constraints is demonstrated in the experiment. Findings Comparing with the proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller, PID + MPC controller and MPC + DOB controller in the humanoid robots environment transition walking experiment, the standard deviation of the tracking error of robots’ upper body pitch attitude trajectory under the control of the intelligent attitude controller is reduced by 60.37 per cent, 44.17 per cent and 26.58 per cent. Originality/value Using an intelligent motion attitude control algorithm to deal with the strong coupling nonlinear problem in biped robots walking can simplify the control process. The offline pre-training of the attitude controller using the identification model as a priori knowledge of online training in the real physical environment makes up the problems of a few physical training samples and low efficiency. The result of using the theory described in this paper shows the performance of the motion-manipulation control precision and motion balance of humanoid robots and provides some inspiration for the application of using DRL in biped robots walking attitude control.

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