Meeting Planners: Views of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Motivations Across Two Continents

Interpretation of, and commitment to, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) differs from country to country, resulting in variances in implementation. It is theorised that these variances originate from organisational and cultural context. There is limited research dedicated to contextual variances of CSR in the meetings industry. As such, the objective of this paper is twofold: first, to understand whether Meeting Planners in America and Western Europe differ in their current and future motives for engaging with CSR. Second, to establish whether the differences in motivation are influenced by their conceptual understanding of CSR or the wider socio-economic and political. The authors analysed over one thousand self-reporting questionnaires from Meeting Planners across the two continents. Results were analysed using un-related t-tests in order to establish if the two groups differ in their underlying motives to engage with CSR. An exploratory factor analysis was used to determine how Meeting Planners conceptualised CSR across the two continents. Results suggests similar strategic motives to engage in CSR. European Meeting Planners identify egoistic motives to engage in CSR. In contrast to America, CSR practice in Europe will change in the future as value-driven motives become prevalent. The paper provides evidence of context as a defining factor in CSR, where ubiquitous constructs of CSR cannot be easily applied to Meeting Planners. The findings demonstrate the incongruent nature of CSR practice. The results advance the application of CSR to Meeting Planner’s practice in both America and Western Europe, re-igniting the definitional debate of CSR within the meetings industry.

PREVALENCE OF MOLAR INSISORHYPOMINERALIZATION OF CHILDREN IN MALAPPURAM, KERALA, INDIA

Background:Molar incisor hypo mineralization is the hypomineralization of systemic origin of one to four permanent first molars, frequently associated with affected incisors. The prevalence rates vary from 2.4 to 40.2%. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the possible etiological factors of Molar incisor hypo mineralization in 6 – 12 year old children of Malappuram district, kerala, India. Methods: A total of 2000 (808?males and 1092?females), 6-12 year-old children were examined who had their first permanent molar and incisors evaluated using the criteria for molar incisor hypomineralization described in the European meeting held in Athens in 2003.The potential aetiological factors were retrieved through detailed questionnaire supplemented with interviews and with medical histories provided by the schools. Statistical analysis was performed with a chi-Square test. Results: A total of 135 children were diagnosed Molar incisor hypomineralization with representing an overall prevalence of 6.75% Conclusion: Although the reason is not completely known, MIH is thought to occur as a result of the multifactorial reasons during the childs prenatal term or systemic diseases and malnutrition during the childs first 3 years of age.