Implications of Economic Decision-Making to the Project Manager - An Investigative Report

Decision-making is required frequently from a project manager. Therefore, this study investigates the fundamentals of economic decision-making, beneficial project manager characteristics, methods that help the project manager’s decision-making, and when economic decision-making should be applied. It was found that internal and external factors influence economic decision-making for a project manager. Also, it was established that economic decision-making should be implemented throughout the duration of the project. When there is not enough data to support economic estimation methods and no time to improve the method, then the project manager must use his/her experience to make a decision.

Sustaining Interstate Land Transportation in Nigeria Amidst Consumers’ Changing Tastes and Preferences: An Investigative Report

Encircled by profit centric inter-state land transporters, middle class consumers (passengers) in Nigeria have echoed their resolve to adopt any land transport company with robust value creation for passengers due to their hedonistic tendencies. This investigative report sought to ascertain the likelihood of middle class consumers adopting a modern and equipped transportation company for inter-state journeys. It specifically identified factors that optimize value creation among middle class consumers, assessed the level of adoption intention, and determined the predictive effect of adoption intention on adoption behavior/continued patronage for a perceived modern and equipped transportation company for inter-state journeys. Using a mixed method, the report identified prioritization of timely departure, free access to communication facilities (Free Wi-Fi) while aboard, efficient response to consumer enquiries and complaints, and vehicle condition which is instrumental to passengers’ safety as the core factors that determine value creation among middle class inter-state passengers in Nigeria. Results further revealed that almost 90% of the respondents exhibited high adoption intention level for a perceived modern and equipped transportation company. Lastly, findings showed that consumers’ adoption intention significantly predicted adoption behavior/continued patronage for a perceived modern and equipped transportation company. Implications of the findings are also discussed.

The Evolution of Corporate Accounts of Scandals From Exposure to Investigation

We extend research on how corporations respond to scandals by examining the evolution of the accounts that are developed by corporate agents after a scandal becomes public. Guided by the theory of accounts and a recently developed perspective on crisis management, we examine how the accounts developed by 12 corporations caught up in highly publicized scandals changed from the time of initial exposure to the issuance of an investigative report. Our analysis shows that denial of wrongdoing in several cases is replaced by admission of wrongdoing and scapegoating, while obfuscation of wrongdoing is replaced by denial or acceptance of responsibility and scapegoating. We conclude with a discussion of the broader managerial and social implications of our analysis and how it furthers our understanding of the ability of corporations to weather serious scandals.

Crypto-Securities Regulation: ICOs, Token Sales and Cryptocurrencies under EU Financial Law

Cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin and ethereum, have not only risen to public attention as novel means of payments, but also as facilitators of initial coin offerings (ICOs, also called token sales). In these entirely online-mediated offerings, entrepreneurs sell tokens registered on a blockchain in exchange for cryptocoins. Buyers receive tokens that can be understood as cryptographically-secured coupons which embody a bundle of rights and obligations. In July 2017, the SEC released an investigative report that highlighted that such tokens can be subject to the full scope of US securities regulation. It is unclear, however, to what extent EU securities regulation is applicable to ICOs and, particularly, whether issuers have to publish and register a prospectus in order to avoid criminal and civil prospectus liability in the EU. In conceptual terms, this depends on whether tokens are considered “securities” under the EU prospectus regulation regime. Against this background, this paper develops a nuanced approach that distinguishes between three archetypes of tokens: currency, investment, and utility tokens. It analyzes the differential implications of each of these types, and their hybrid forms, for EU securities regulation, and develops policy proposals for their regulation.