Africa's digital adoption far outpaces cybersecurity

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Stability ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Economic Strain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Skills Shortages ◽  
Major Impediment

Significance The security of high-profile and sensitive processes such as elections is particularly significant as it has implications for both government legitimacy and political stability. Impacts Pandemic-related economic strain could shrink necessary spending on cybersecurity. Skills shortages will remain a major impediment to boosting cybersecurity. Chinese investment in African IT infrastructure will rise.

Stability and risk-aversion mark Sri Lanka's outlook

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
First Year ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Political Challenge ◽  
The Government ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject Political and economic outlook. Significance The national unity government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe completed its first year in July. After a phase of poor cohesion and unpopular decisions, the government is regaining public support. Sirisena, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and Wickremesinghe, leader of the United National Party (UNP), have extended their alliance to 2020, boosting political stability. Yet significant economic and political challenges remain. Impacts Dependence on Chinese investment is unavoidable, but Colombo will seek new partners. Rajapaksa will remain the most important political challenge for the government. Ethnic reconciliation is a distant dream, but overt tensions are subsiding.

China-EU 'Silk Road' railways bring new advantages

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Air Transportation ◽  
Railway Transport ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
Economic Zones

Subject Development of trans-Eurasian railways under China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative. Significance China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative envisages the creation of new China-Europe railway connections and modernisation of existing ones. Railway transport between China and its second-largest trading partner is becoming a viable alternative to sea and air transportation, especially for high-value-added products which require timely deliveries but have insufficient profit margins to warrant substantial air transportation fees. Impacts Flows of Chinese investment into Central Asian countries along the main rail routes will contribute to economic and political stability. Industrial centres will emerge in special economic zones along the railway routes, such Khorgos-East Gate on the China-Kazakhstan border. Improved connections between inland Chinese industrial cities and their European customers will stimulate export flows from China. Demand for rails, steel, logistics, locomotives and wagons will receive a boost from trans-Eurasian railway investment. A new maritime link across the Caspian Sea will reduce Russia's ability to impose transit restrictions.

Ethiopia’s political crisis may enter new phase

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
National Security Council ◽  
Council Meeting ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
New Phase

Significance High-profile resignations from the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) have added to the uncertainty, while an ongoing drought and slowing economic growth have accentuated the government’s troubles. The significance of these developments was attested to by a leaked document from a November 10 National Security Council meeting, which painted an alarming picture of deep political, social and economic crisis. Impacts Internal party dissonance will be a greater risk than opposition competition for local and municipal elections in 2018. Political stability will be critical for the fruition of long-term investments in grand economic projects. Domestic tensions will distract Ethiopia’s foreign policy focus, especially in Eritrea, Somalia and South Sudan.

scholarly journals Attracting Chinese FDI in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 139-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Shan ◽  
Zhibin Lin ◽  
Yulei Li ◽  
Yan Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Market Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Regulatory Quality ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Of Corruption

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of natural resources, market size and five major institutional factors (voice and accountability; political stability and absence of violence; regulatory quality; rule of law and control of corruption) on Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa. Design/methodology/approach This study uses regression analysis on panel data across 22 countries for the period 2008-2014. Findings Natural resources did not play a significant role in attracting Chinese investments, but market size did. Among the institutional factors, only voice and accountability had a significant and positive effect on attracting Chinese FDI; the effects of rule of law and control of corruption were not significant and political stability and regulatory quality had a significant and negative effect. Research limitations/implications Chinese investment in Africa is only a recent phenomenon, and is growing rapidly; further studies should examine factors that are unique to the context such as bilateral political link. Practical implications African countries that are struggling with improving their poor institutional quality in the short term could effectively attract Chinese investment by reducing investor psychic distance, e.g. establishing a closer political link with China. Nevertheless, in the long term, measures of improving institutional quality are important. Originality/value This study reveals for the first time that what attracts Chinese investment is market size rather than natural resources, and different institutional factors of an African country show varying effects on attracting Chinese FDI.

Skills shortages undermine China's high-tech ambitions

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Industrial Structure ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Skills Shortages ◽  
High Skill

Subject Employment and unemployment trends in China. Significance Slowing economic growth and a changing industrial structure have led to a serious mismatch emerging between the skills workers offer and the skills firms require. The result is an economy beset by unemployment and skills shortages simultaneously. Impacts Skills shortages in growth industries will put upward pressure on wages and salaries. Inability to find productive jobs for both high-skill graduates and low-skill migrants could put social and political stability at risk. The absence of a framework to protect and support of workers’ interests effectively will make employment-related problems worse. Demographics will affect the availability of workers throughout the economy: the workforce will shrink and its average age rise.

Aligning talent management with approaches to equality and diversity

2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Harrisr ◽  
Carley Foster
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Work Force ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fair Treatment ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Recruitment And Selection ◽  
Skills Shortages

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of talent management interventions in UK public sector organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws upon the findings of a qualitative study of talent management in two UK public sector case study organisations.FindingsImplementing talent management was found to present particular tensions for public sector managers, particularly in terms of its alignment with well‐embedded diversity and equality policies and their own perceptions of fair treatment in the workplace. Despite an acknowledgement that the sector needs to attract, develop and retain the most talented individuals to achieve its modernisation agenda, interventions which require singling out those individuals for special treatment challenges many of its established practices for recruitment and selection, employee development and career management.Practical implicationsPublic sector organisations need to invest both time and effort into developing appropriate and relevant approaches to talent management, which take proper account of line managers' perceptions of fair treatment and established organisational approaches to diversity and equality.Originality/valueTalent management is a topic of growing interest from employers concerned about their work force demographics, specific skills shortages and the retention of high potential employees but the concepts that inform talent interventions are often unclear or are an uneasy fit with the beliefs and understandings about fair treatment of those who have to implement them.

scholarly journals The role of uniqueness in destination branding: the case of historical Portsmouth harbor

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Apostolakis ◽  
Shabbar Jaffry ◽  
Faye Sizeland ◽  
Adam Cox
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Destination Branding ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
City Brand ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Local Resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential for utilizing a unique resource, such as the Historic Portsmouth Harbor, in order to differentiate the local brand. Design/methodology/approach – The objective of the paper is to examine the role of unique local resources and attractions as a source of competitive advantage through destination branding. Findings – The main findings of the paper indicate that policy makers and destination managers should more proactively utilize the unique elements of the Historic Portsmouth Harbor “brand,” as opposed to the commonplace “waterfront city” brand. This could be achieved by staging events of international significance or through a bid for gaining world heritage status. In addition to that, the paper argues that in order for this branding initiative to have a higher impact, a prominent high profile individual should be appointed. This individual could act as a leader or “brand ambassador” in order to attract stakeholder interest and participation. Originality/value – The paper could be of value to destination managers and marketing organizations in a local, sub-regional and regional level.

The creation and development of learning organizations: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohit Kumar ◽  
Justin Paul ◽  
Madhvendra Misra ◽  
Rubina Romanello
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Organization ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Stored Information ◽  
And Storage

Purpose In this paper, using the antecedents, decisions and outcomes (ADO) framework, the factors/key performance indicators (KPIs) most relevant for creating or building a learning organization (LO) are identified. This study aims to contribute to the field of knowledge management (KM) in terms of introducing KPIs to foster a business organization with a continuous learning process, mechanisms of knowledge creation and memorization. Design/methodology/approach In total, 57 papers were selected for this systematic literature review (SLR) from Web of Science and Scopus covering the period 1985–2019. Findings The 12 most relevant KPIs are identified based on the literature survey conducted in the field of LO. Research limitations/implications The managerial implications of this review paper will be an added advantage to the modern business organization worldwide that have adopted KM practices to foster knowledge management with information technology (IT) infrastructure. As IT infrastructure focuses on knowledge acquisition, dissemination and storage but the KPIs revealed through this review will help in transforming stored information as learning for the organization to improve its overall performance. Originality/value This review synthesizes prior studies and provides directions for future research.

Gbagbo will return to frontline Ivory Coast politics

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Election Victory

Significance Instead he aims to create a new party. The FPI has since denied reports of mass defections by the party grassroots to Gbagbo. This comes in the context of broader public reconciliation efforts by President Alassane Ouattara, who seeks political stability in the aftermath of a highly controversial October 2020 third-term election victory. Impacts Ouattara is unlikely to grant general amnesty to all political actors in order to keep some of them outside the country. Gbagbo will likely win over most, though not all, of his former supporters within the FPI. Struggles within Gbagbo’s former party and other opposition formations will weaken the opposition in the short term. Gbagbo will consolidate his position as the main opposition leader, threatening the country’s stability in the lead-up to the 2025 election.

The determinants of foreign direct investment: what about the potential of the Arab Maghreb countries?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamdi Khalfaoui ◽  
Abdelkader Derbali
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
The United States ◽  
Investment Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
General Method Of Moments

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the main determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the case of the Arab Maghreb countries. Design/methodology/approach We employ a dynamic panel analysis using the General Method of Moments for a sample composed of 105 countries over the period 1985–2018. Findings We show that FDI stability, market size, higher education enrolment, quality of institutions, distance, sharing of common border, and bilateral investment and integration agreements are the main determinants of FDI location. These determinants are neither general. The potential for attracting FDI from AMU countries is poorly exploited. FDI to the AMU is lower than estimated stock. The observed FDI to potential FDI ratio does not exceed 87%. France and Spain are the main investors in the AMU region thanks to historical and cultural links. The FDI from the United States, Canada, Germany, Belgium, and Japan are below what is expected. Originality/value The contribution of this paper is observed on the examining oh the determinants of the FDI in the Arab Maghreb countries. Our study demonstrate that the political stability can decrease investment risk in these countries. The administrations correspondingly require expanding their rules and strategies with union demonstrations which were at the beginning of the departure and closing of several foreign companies.

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