SMEs and the business reality of criminality (the case of Estonia)

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-83
Author(s):  
Paul Gordon Dickinson
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Business Law ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
Business Regulation ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to identify key areas of criminality that affects SMEs and assess and link academic literature on criminality in relation to those areas with the empirical research. In effect to explore the business reality of the criminality environment and its significant aspects that have an impact on SME organisations and their managers and assist their decision making. Additionally, to consider the impact of Estonia's Soviet historical background and her EU membership criminal law obligations within such an evaluation. Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory paper makes use of World, European and domestic surveys and primary criminal and business law sources as well as interviews from a business within the country assessed and a former Estonian police inspector. Together this gives an academic and grass-roots perspective for an assessment of the criminality reality for SMEs. Findings – The investigation reaffirms the importance of SMEs within former economies from a Soviet background such as Estonia. It also emphasises the correlation between economic growth, business regulation and criminality and identifies the significance and “key” aspects of criminality for an SME. Furthermore, that Estonia's criminal law that affects SMEs is generally as it is written and that Estonia has a positive compliance with EU directives and regulations. It emphasises that overall a very positive progression has been made by Estonia within its criminal law environment which is considered stable and encouraging for SME activity. The recording of crime is relatively low by EU standards and has an effect, albeit small, on the reality for SMEs. Practical implications – This research demonstrates the reality of the extent of criminality in Estonia and its positive progression in dealing with it. Corruption, a legacy from the Soviet period, is relatively small within the Estonian system as well as protection costs for an SME. There is, however, an acceptance of the existence of organized crime in Estonia although it is an under researched area. Some of the gaps within the World, European and domestic surveys are filled by the interviews although further evaluation is needed from other academics. Originality/value – The research highlights the importance of the criminal law environment for SMEs within a relatively new EU member state. It provides an original grass-roots perspective on top of an academic assessment providing fuller information on the reality for SME activity. This is helpful for SME's operating or thinking of doing business in Estonia as well as providing indicators for countries from similar Soviet backgrounds as to their criminality reality.

Evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Eastern Europe since the end of communism

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-100
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Georgiev ◽  
Emil Georgiev
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Product Quality ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Bulgaria since the end of communism. The study examines three specific areas: top management’s understanding of the term “quality”; top management’s understanding of the relationship between quality and business performance; and top management’s understanding of the impact of job position on quality. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a quantitative research approach by using data from a survey of 186 companies in Bulgaria. Findings The paper suggests that senior managers in Bulgaria continue to base their understanding of “quality” on a single approach (*a characteristic of the communist era), with the product-based and the user-based approaches currently being the two most common ones. At the same time, surprisingly enough, this study claims that senior management in Bulgaria is currently well aware of the importance of quality as a dimension of firm’s competitiveness, and is also highly conscious of its roles’ impact on product quality. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are exclusively based on the case of Bulgaria and must be treated with caution in the case of other former communist states from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. Practical implications This paper has relevance for both managers and companies doing business in Eastern Europe. Originality/value This is the first paper to provide detailed analysis of the evolution of the understanding of “product quality” in CEE since the end of communism. Moreover, this paper applies, for the first time, Garvin’s five approaches to defining quality within a practical context.

Energy Legislation in the General System of Business Law

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Сергей Занковский ◽  
Sergey Zankovskiy
Keyword(s):  
Import Substitution ◽  
General System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Business Law ◽  
The Past ◽  
Business Regulation ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Energy Law

The article considers the problems of energy legislation in the context of improving the legislation on entrepreneurship. In the judgment of the author the construction of the energy legislation is a possibility provided it is of a centrifugal nature with the general principles making the basis for such acts attempted to solve the outstanding problems. One of such principles which is to be legislatively enacted could be the principle of import substitution adopted to do away with dependence on foreign-made goods. The role of energy law can only be understood provided we have the relevant contemporary system of laws. This can be possibly achieved from the doctrinal point of view. The author analyses legal business regulation existing in the pre revolutionary and soviet period. It helps to understand better what is to borrowed from the experience of the past to be used to regulate said relationships. The author calls for necessity to issue the Code of Laws of the Russian Federation as the first step to make legislation systematized. The next step to be taken could be the adoption of comprehensive legal acts, say, Energy Code which could eventually make so-called legislation blocks. The latter could , in turn, serve the basis for so-called central legislative act to regulate business law.

1. Criminal law in context

Criminal Law ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Michael J. Allen ◽  
Ian Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
European Convention ◽  
The Political ◽  
Criminal Process ◽  
Standard Of Proof ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

Course-focused and comprehensive, the Textbook on series provides an accessible overview of the key areas on the law curriculum. This introductory chapter answers the following questions: What is a crime? What purpose or function does the criminal law serve? What reasons are there for the criminalisation of some types of conduct? What are the purposes of punishment? What are the political and social contexts in which criminal law operates? The chapter provides an overview of key aspects of the criminal process, including mode of trial, the decision to prosecute, the burden and standard of proof, the functions of judge and jury, and sentencing. It also examines briefly discusses the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on English law.

scholarly journals Creatively expanding research from work-based learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-125
Author(s):  
Deborah Scott
Keyword(s):  
Learning Experience ◽  
Workplace Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Unexpected Outcomes ◽  
Professional Judgement

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of creativity in work-based research and practice to yield deeper understanding of practice situations. Unexpected insights can lead one (or a team) to identify new approaches, tackling workplace issues differently, leading to unexpected outcomes of long-term impact.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on work conducted for a doctoral thesis, investigating the impact of work-based learning for recent masters graduates of a work-based learning programme. Fiction was incorporated into analysis of the data, creating play scripts to represent key aspects of the researcher's perceptions and interpretations for each participant.FindingsResearch participants experienced personal, professional and organisational impact, although there was considerable variability between individuals. Additionally, societal impact was wished for and/or effected. The approach to representation of analysis, which involved fictionalising participants' experiences, created a strong Thirdspace liminality. This appeared to deepen awareness and understanding.Research limitations/implicationsSuch approaches can transform the researcher's perspective, prompting insights which lead to further adventure and development in work-based research and practice.Practical implicationsManagers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.Social implicationsManagers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.Originality/valueThe creation of play scripts, representing an interpretation of participants' stories about their work-based learning experience, is an innovative feature of this work.

The impact of product architecture on global operations network design

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Pashaei ◽  
Jan Olhager
Keyword(s):  
Product Architecture ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modular Product ◽  
Modular Products ◽  
Key Technologies ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Global Operations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Assembly Plants

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how integral and modular product architectures influence the design properties of the global operations network. Design/methodology/approach The authors perform a multiple-case study of three global manufacturing companies, using interviews, seminars and structured questionnaires to identify ideal design properties. Findings The authors find that the choice of integral vs modular product architecture lead to significant differences in the preferred design properties of global operations networks concerning number of key technologies in-house, number of capable plants, focus at assembly plants, distance between assembly plant and market, and number of key supplier sites. Two of these were identified through this research, i.e. the number of capable plants and number of key supplier sites. The authors make a distinction between component and assembly plants, which adds detail to the understanding of the impact of product architecture on global operations. In addition, they develop five propositions that can be tested in further survey research. Research limitations/implications This study is restricted to three large manufacturing companies with global operations. However, the authors investigated both integral and modular products at these three companies and their associated global operations network. Still, further case or survey research involving a broader set of companies is warranted. Practical implications The key aspects for integral products are to have many key technologies in-house, concentration of production at a few capable plants, and economies-of-scale at assembly plants, while long distances between assembly plants and markets as well as few key supplier sites are acceptable. For modular products, the key aspects are many capable plants, economies-of-scope at assembly plants, short distance between assembly plants and markets, and many key supplier sites, while key technologies do not necessarily have to reside in-house – these can be accessed via key suppliers. Originality/value This paper is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first study on the explicit impact of product architecture on global operations networks, especially considering the internal manufacturing network.

scholarly journals Accounting, accountability, social media and big data: revolution or hype?

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 762-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Arnaboldi ◽  
Cristiano Busco ◽  
Suresh Cuganesan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline an agenda for researching the relationship between technology-enabled networks – such as social media and big data – and the accounting function. In doing so, it links the contents of an unfolding area research with the papers published in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal. Design/methodology/approach The paper surveys the existing literature, which is still in its infancy, and proposes ways in which to frame early and future research. The intention is not to offer a comprehensive review, but to stimulate and conversation. Findings The authors review several existing studies exploring technology-enabled networks and highlight some of the key aspects featuring social media and big data, before offering a classification of existing research efforts, as well as opportunities for future research. Three areas of investigation are identified: new performance indicators based on social media and big data; governance of social media and big data information resources; and, finally, social media and big data’s alteration of information and decision-making processes. Originality/value The authors are currently experiencing a technological revolution that will fundamentally change the way in which organisations, as well as individuals, operate. It is claimed that many knowledge-based jobs are being automated, as well as others transformed with, for example, data scientists ready to replace even the most qualified accountants. But, of course, similar claims have been made before and therefore, as academics, the authors are called upon to explore the impact of these technology-enabled networks further. This paper contributes by starting a debate and speculating on the possible research agendas ahead.

scholarly journals Balancing between accountability and autonomy: the impact and relevance of public steering mechanisms within higher education

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi J. Kallio ◽  
Kirsi-Mari Kallio ◽  
Mira Huusko ◽  
Riitta Pyykkö ◽  
Jussi Kivistö
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Institutional Autonomy ◽  
University Autonomy ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Steering Mechanism ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis article studies the tensions between universities' accountability and autonomy in response to the demands of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachDemonstrating the tension between accountability and autonomy, the impact and relevance of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education are studied via a survey with selected representative Finnish universities. The response rate was an exceptionally high 94%. In addition to the statistical analysis of the survey, open-ended questions were also analyzed to give a more in-depth understanding of the findings. The study uses paradox theory and institutional complexity as its theoretical lenses.FindingsThe empirical analysis of this study shows a considerable gap between the experienced impact and the experienced relevance of the steering mechanisms in higher education. The authors’ further analysis of the open-ended data shows that indicator-based funding allocation has undermined the perceived university autonomy. The authors highlight the paradoxical tensions of university autonomy and higher education institutions' steering mechanisms' requirement for accountability. Finding an acceptable balance between accountability and institutional autonomy plays an important role in designing higher education policies.Originality/valueThe authors found that even if a steering mechanism is experienced as impactful, it is not necessarily considered relevant. One of the key aspects in understanding the reasons behind this mismatch is related to university autonomy. Most impactful steering mechanisms become considered less relevant because they also endanger institutional autonomy. In this sense, it could be expected that steering mechanisms should better balance accountability and autonomy.

scholarly journals The Criminological and Legal Aspects of Using the Deferral of Punishment

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-844
Author(s):  
Alexandr Kuznetsov ◽  
Roman Novikov
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Socially Relevant ◽  
Chelyabinsk Region ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

The institute of the deferral of punishment is one of the steadily developing institutes of contemporary criminal law in the Russian Federation that reflects a trend for the humanization of punishment, the economy of repressive criminal law measures, and for widening the list of measures and sanctions alternative to punishment. The relevance of the key aspects of research presented in the article is connected with the fact that the evolution of the institute of deferral of punishment in the doctrine of criminal law gives rise to a number of discussions both about the legal nature of this institute, its role and place among other criminal law measures, and the specific features of its application in the practice of law enforcement. Deferral of punishment is a socially relevant institute in Russian criminal law aimed at the correction of convicts without severing their socially relevant links. The impact of the requirements of international legislation on reducing the number of persons isolated from society and a wide use of alternative punishments in Russia have lead to a wider application of the deferral of punishment. The authors analyze specific aspects of the legal regulation of the deferral of punishment, study the criminologically relevant characteristics of persons to whom this criminal law measure is applied, as well as the law enforcement practice of appointing and enforcing the deferral of punishment. They present the results of surveying 250 convicts, and also of interviewing 300 employees of the penitentiary system, who ensure compliance with the requirements of law on the deferral of punishment in a number of regions of the Russian Federation, such as the Udmurt Republic, the Bashkortostan Republic, Kurgan Region, Kirov Region, Sverdlovsk Region, Chelyabinsk Region and Perm Region. The research also includes the analysis of departmental and court statistics, federal legislation and departmental normative acts. The conducted research allowed the authors to present their suggestions on improving the current legislation of the Russian Federation that regulates the penitentiary sphere.

scholarly journals Sabab Al-Nuzul dan Asas Berlaku Surut dalam Hukum Pidana

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 561-587
Author(s):  
Makinuddin Makinuddin
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Islamic Law ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
General Interest ◽  
The Law ◽  
General Meaning ◽  
Principle Of Legality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Legal Consequences

Abstract: Al-Qur’an is revealed by Allah as a guidance for mankind. Most of its verses were revealed without circumstantial events on which the verses were revealed. Meanwhile, there are also some of its verses which were revealed to answer or respond particular events or questions that can be easily understood from their historicity especially those which related to Islamic law. This particular events or questions are called sabab al-nuzul (context of revelation) in the study of Qurán. This research shows that there are many advantages of the context of the revelation associated with the legal verses. The wisdom and secret of the verses become the basis of the law promulgation to reach a public interest. As for the impact of the context of the revelation is that the derived law will be enforced since the legal event happened, and not since it was revealed. This rule is based on the principle of “the derivation of Islamic constitution is understood from the particular context of the revelation and not based on the general meaning of the word”, particularlyassociated with the criminal act which violatespublic or general interest. Thus, it is clear that the principle of legality is not always enforced in the Islamic criminal law. Under a certain condition, it may be applied retroactively if the criminal actdisturbs public interest. So that, this research will focus on the legal consequences of verses of al-Qur’an which have the historical background and those which do not.Keywords: Reason of the revelation, certain historical background, retroactive, and muharabah Abstrak: Al-Qur’an diturunkan ada yang tidak melalui sebab dan ini lebih banyak daripada yang melalui sebab dan ia merupakan wahyu yang menjadi petunjuk Allah bagi  umat manusia (hudan li al-nas). Sementara itu, ada juga yang melalui sabab al-nuzul, karena adanya fatrat min al-rasul (kekosongan umat manusia dari keberadaan Nabi dan Rasul) dan mengandung beberapa hikmah yang dalam, terutama terkait dengan pemahaman ayat-ayat hukum dalam al-Qur’an. Melalui tulisan ini, ditemukan bahwa banyak manfaat sabab al-nuzul terkait dengan ayat hukum, di antaranya dapat diketahui hikmah dan rahasia diundangkannya suatu hukum dan perhatian shara’ terhadap kepentingan umum. Dampak sabab al-nuzul dengan penerapan asas berlaku surut (athar raj’i), yaitu hukum yang diturunkan akan diberlakukan sejak peristiwa hukum (tindak pidana) itu terjadi, bukan sejak al-Qur’an diturunkan, menurut kaidah sabab al-nuzul, al-‘ibrah bi khusus al-sabab, bukan al-‘ibrah bi ‘umum al-lafz, terkait dengan tindak pidana yang mengganggu masyarakat atau kepentingan umum. Sehingga, menjadi jelas bahwa asas legalitas tidak selamanya diberlakukan dalam hukum pidana Islam maupun positif. Dalam kondisi tertentu dapat diberlakukan surut jika tindak pidana mengganggu kepentingan umum dan menguntungkan pelaku pidana jika terjadi perubahan peraturan dengan menganalogkan kepada peristiwa terdahulu melalui pendekatan sabab al-nuzul, bahkan dalam hukum pidana Islam lebih luas penerapan asas berlaku surut.Kata Kunci: Sabab al-nuzul, khusus al-sabab, berlaku surut, muharabah

Agencification in Greece: a parallel public sector?

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-204
Author(s):  
Manto Lampropoulou
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Path Dependent ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Administrative Tradition ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the impact of agencification on the process of administrative reorganization in Greece. It is suggested that agencies tend to create a parallel administrative space that operates disjointly or even detached from the central bureaucracy. This hypothesis is tested and elaborated in relation to Greece's centralist administrative tradition.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis identifies the critical junctures of the domestic agencification pattern and seeks to explain its evolution on the basis of historical-cultural factors, rational choice explanations and country-specific variables. The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative research. Along with a review of existing literature, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the Registry of Entities and Agencies.FindingsThe findings show that agencification never became a coherent policy reform tool, while its outcomes were filtered by the centralist and politicized tradition of the Greek state. The effect of agencification was proved to be highly path-dependent and contingent upon the broader administrative tradition. The agencification policy does not follow a clear direction and has been shaped as a random combination of ad hoc decisions, external pressures and domestic politics.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides some generalizations of the agencification experience. However, they do not cover all specificities and particularities of agencies and their applicability varies. Further research could consider these variations.Originality/valueA novelty of this study is that it links the agencification effect with three key aspects of the administrative reform process, namely, decentralization, debureaucratization and depoliticization. In addition, no single study exists regarding agencification in Greece; thus, the paper is the first to provide an overall view of the Greek arm's length bodies.

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