scholarly journals The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global. Risk Based Versus Ethical Investments

2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-78
Author(s):  
Heidi Rapp Nilsen ◽  
Beate Sjåfjell ◽  
Benjamin J. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Risk ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Global Risk ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Sovereign Wealth Funds ◽  
Just Society ◽  
Ethical Investments ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Market Capitalism

Summary: Access to finance is crucial if we are to achieve the fundamental transition of our time: securing a safe and just society operating within the planetary boundaries. In the era of global market capitalism and deregulation, Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) offer one of the few public economic institutions capable of injecting ecological and social values into global markets. This article undertakes a case study of one of the world’s largest SWF, the Norwegian Government Pension Global (The Fund). The Fund is well-known for its Ethical Guidelines recommending exclusion of companies based on products and conduct as well as the Fund’s public statements when withdrawing from companies. Still, the ethical basis of overlapping consensus leads to responding to public opinion and media controversy when considering divestment, rather than undertaking due diligence beforehand. In addition, and not well known, more firms have been excluded from the Fund based on the financial risk against the portfolio than based on the Ethical Guidelines. In this article we discuss the basis of both the Ethical Guidelines and of the financial risk management of the portfolio. Still, the majority of the Fund’s investments are on an unsustainable path of ‘business as usual’. A principal thesis of this article is the paradox that the more unsustainable ‘business as usual’ becomes, the importance of financial risk assessment increases and the relevance of the Ethical Guidelines decreases.

Power and Globalization in Africa: Perceptions of Barriers to Fair Economic Development in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 77-97
Author(s):  
John Bosco Ngendakurio
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Order ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The World ◽  
The Rich ◽  
First World

Abstract This article seeks to reveal the primary barriers to fair economic development based on Kenyans’ perceptions of power and globalization. This search was initially sparked by the seeming disinterest of First World scholars to understand the reasons why poor countries benefit so little from the global market as reflected in a subsequent lack of a wide-ranging existing literature about the subject. The literature suggests that global capitalism is dominated by a powerful small elite, the so-called Transnational Capitalist Class (TCC), but how does this relate to Kenya and Africa in general? We know that the TCC has strong connections to financial capital and wealthy transnational corporations. It also pushes neo-liberalism, which becomes the taken-for-granted everyday language and culture that justifies state policies that result in a further class polarization between the rich and poor. Using Kenya as a case study, this article draws on original qualitative research involving face-to-face interviews with Kenyan residents in different sectors who spoke freely about what they perceive to be Kenya’s place in the world order. My interview results show that, on top of the general lack of economic power in the world order, the main barriers to Africa’s performance are neo-colonial and imperialist practices, poor technology, poor infrastructure, general governance issues, and purchasing power.

scholarly journals Lean Management Implementation in Small and Medium Sized Companies – A Success Case Study in a Manufacturing Process

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-121
Author(s):  
Fernando Romana
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Operational Flow ◽  
Special Relevance

Abstract Objective: The aim of this paper is to understand a production system of a forging and presses structure of a centenary factory in terms of a cultural change on the management approach. Methodology: The study was focused on many aspects such as the pieces production lead time, a time study of the setups, the Overall Equipment Effectiveness determination for the Computer Numeric Control machinery and an analysis of the production cells operational flow. Findings: For the aspects that were analysed during the study, the problems are identified, and the root causes determined. At the end of the assessment stage Lean tools and concepts for fixing the problems were proposed, like new rules for production planning, setups procedures, 5S toll usage and a Lean implementation plan that is adapted to the company. Value Added: The high industrial competitivity has dictated the development for this sector that – allied with the inconstant and unstable economic environment – makes the companies very vulnerable and highly dependent of the global market. This is a concern of special relevance for the Small and Medium Size companies that are increasingly adopting Lean solutions to continuously improve their operational value chain and the management approach, for a more systemic way of thinking. Recommendations: For some of the solutions an impact study with their implementation was made. An analysis of the success factors proposed in the literature that were verified during the assessment stage of the case study was performed as well.

scholarly journals The Potential Of Internationalization Of Small And Medium Micro Enterprises In SAWO Leather Crafts, Magetan District, East Java, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 650-659
Author(s):  
Hari Purwanto
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
International Market ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Marketing Channels ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Data Display ◽  
Advanced Information Technology ◽  
Micro Enterprises

The Magetan leather handicraft business is one of the long-established and surviving SMEs and contributes to the creation of employment and income for the community. Currently, the marketing of leather handicraft products is still limited to meeting local and national needs so that limited market demand makes leather handicraft difficult to develop. Globalization and increasingly advanced information technology have become opportunities for the Magetanleathercraft industry to penetrate the international market, however, various obstacles arise considering that penetrating the global market is not easy for small businesses that have many limitations. The purpose of this case study is to examine the opportunities and obstacles of the Magetan leather handicraft business to penetrate the international market. This research approach is qualitative with case studies.owner of leather handicraft, owner of leathercraft marketing shop, the buyer of leathercraft, an employee of leathercraft. Data analysis includes (1) data collection (2) data display (3) data reduction and (4) conclusions.[1]The results showed that there were obstacles to the internationalization of the Magetan leather handicraft business, namely complicated international trade procedures for SMEs, No marketing channels abroad for SMEs, Limited SME resources. The solution that can be offered from this problem is not to let SMEs directly penetrate the global market independently given the limitations they have, but by providing a mediator that can bridge SMEs with foreign consumers with a Marketplace, Exporters, or Cooperatives.

scholarly journals Single Carrot Theatre: Financial Crisis Leads to Artistic Pivot

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chin ◽  
Sidney Pink
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Arts Organizations ◽  
Artistic Vision ◽  
Instructor's Manual ◽  
Business Structure

This teaching case study examines how Single Carrot Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland used adaptive capacity, leadership structures and risk assessment to implement a large organizational and artistic pivot. The case study is designed for undergraduate students to analyze how an established arts organization in financial risk can pivot from a traditional model to an innovative business structure while managing financial sustainability, audience growth and artistic vision. The Instructor’s Manual includes learning objectives, sample questions and additional resources to guide discussion around organizational culture and the important role of artistic vision in arts organizations.

Slægtskabsreguleringer. Feministisk retsretorik som analyseramme og dens potentiale for at identificere lovens performative effekter

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (79) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Kroløkke ◽  
Janne Rothmar Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Rhetorical Figures ◽  
Master Plots

Involuntary childlessness is a well-known phenomenon, and in Denmark, every twelfth child is born through the use of assisted reproduction. Denmark is currently positioned as one of the key global actors both as far as the use of in-vitro ­fertilization (IVF) is concerned as well as within the global ­market in sperm and reproductive technologies. In this article, the authors develop a feminist legal rhetorical framework to discuss how the Danish law and ethical guidelines on adoption and assisted reproduction rhetorically produce different master plots on “natural,” “artificial,” and “monstrous” forms of kinship. The authors conclude with a discussion of the potential that a feminist legal rhetorical framework holds, including its ability to analyze how rhetorical figures and metaphors legitimize certain types of kinship as well as the ability to raise new and provo­cative questions related to gender equality within the law

Contemporary Financial Risk Management Perceptions and Practices of Small-Sized Chinese Businesses

2018 ◽  
pp. 917-931
Author(s):  
Simon S. Gao ◽  
Serge Oreal ◽  
Jane Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Financial Risk Management ◽  
Chinese Business ◽  
Insurance Cover ◽  
Interpretative Approach

This study investigated the current perceptions and practices of financial risk management at small businesses in China. The researchers took an interpretative approach, using interviews within a case study, to collect qualitative data from Chinese business owners. Despite the well-documented importance of financial risk management in light of the 2008 global financial crises, surprisingly, the data indicated that little progress has been made on implementing an effective financial risk management in many Chinese small businesses. Analysis indicated the core problems in the case study organization stemmed from a lack of expertise, along with insufficient operational resources, for applying risk management. Interestingly, the researchers also found that Chinese small business managers perceived financial risks differently from managers of large organizations in China. Specifically, small business owners preferred to utilize risk transfer and insurance cover to hedge against financial risk.

The Geography of Peace Movements

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guntram H. Herb
Keyword(s):  
Historical Perspective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Peace Movement ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Peace Movements ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Just Society ◽  
Movement Mobilization

Geographers have not been prominent in studying peace movements. This is not surprising, given the strong foundations of the discipline in warfare and imperialism. To date, the only general geographic survey of peace movements appears to be Brunn’s 1985 study, a catalog of peace organizations and their activities that covered mainly the United States. Other studies by geographers are few and focus on individual antiwar campaigns or disarmament strategies. However, more recently, geographers have made significant contributions to the analysis of the broader theoretical context of peace movements. These works offer spatial conceptualizations of social movement mobilization. A general appraisal of the geographic dimensions of peace movements is still missing. This chapter represents a tentative step in this direction. The examination is conducted in four steps. The first section deals with general characteristics of peace movements. It discusses problems of definition and presents the intellectual and philosophical foundations of peace activities. The second section approaches the geography of peace movements from a historical perspective. It examines the development of organized peace groups from their origins in the nineteenth century to the present. Different scales of the changing geopolitical and societal contexts will frame the discussion. Such a geohistory will allow us to identify and interpret changing intensities of activism. The third section addresses the geography of contemporary peace movements from a conceptual viewpoint. Armed with theoretical concepts from the recent literature on social movements, it examines the places and spaces of mobilization. The 1980s peace movement against nuclear armaments will serve as a case study to illustrate the insights that can be gained from a geographic approach. Finally, I will present the major implications that stem from the geohistorical and conceptual discussions in the conclusion. Peace is more than the absence of war. Though it is traditionally defined as the opposite of war, peace scholars and activists now embrace a notion of peace that includes the conditions necessary to bring about a nonviolent and just society at all levels of human activity. Contemporary peace movements not only seek to abolish the overt violence of war, but also struggle to transform the social structures responsible for death and human suffering.

Buy the Book: Electronic Commerce in the Book Trade

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301
Author(s):  
Claudia Loebbecke ◽  
Philip Powell ◽  
Carl Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Electronic Publishing ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Background Detail ◽  
The Impact

Exploitation of the World Wide Web (WWW) is a pipedream for many businesses, as they do not or cannot analyse their motives for having a web site. Many do not understand that there is more to a successful web site than having a corporate logo on a home page. They do not foresee the effort that goes into maintaining a web site, the increased competition from exposure to a ‘global market’ via the Internet and the impact a web site will have on the existing business. This case study allows analysis of the opportunities and risks of launching electronic commerce (EC) services in the case of the Co-op Bookshop, Australia's largest academic bookseller. The case describes Co-op's difficult progression to a profitable WWW presence and investigates potential developments due to growing competition from ‘global players’ and increasing amalgamation between bookselling over the WWW and electronic publishing. The case outlines the four possibilities by which a firm can profit from its Internet activities and transfers these general benefits to Internet service provision by bookstores. In particular, it directs attention to thinking of the core goals of the business, how a WWW presence helps to meet these goals and whether the introduction of a web site changes the direction of the business. This leads to a consideration of the nature of the web site. The case study allows exploration of the current customers and markets and why the firm focuses on these. Further, there are the issues of the resources required to set up and maintain a web site, how the site may be integrated into the existing business and its growth path. These issues are explored and modelled in the teaching notes and further background detail is given.

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