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1 – 10 of 13Brian J. Farrell and Deirdre M. Cobbin
Points out that the trend in the USA and the UK to adopt business codes of ethics has been followed in recent years by Australian business organizations. Presents findings from…
Abstract
Points out that the trend in the USA and the UK to adopt business codes of ethics has been followed in recent years by Australian business organizations. Presents findings from two studies which involved the top 500 Australian enterprises. The first examined the likelihood of code adoption in relation to such variables as organization type, size, income and major activities. The second was concerned with the actual nature of the content to determine whether codes were designed to deal with ethical issues, corporate values and ethical decision skills rather than with management policies and legal issues; and whether a code was in fact a code of ethics as opposed to rules on business etiquette and behaviour.
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This paper presents the second-generation estimates for the Italian engineering industry in 1911, a year documented both by the customary demographic census, and the first…
Abstract
This paper presents the second-generation estimates for the Italian engineering industry in 1911, a year documented both by the customary demographic census, and the first industrial census. The first part of this paper uses the census data to estimate the industry’s value added, sector by sector; the second further disaggregates each sector by activity, and estimates the value added, employment, physical product, and metal consumption of each one. A third, concluding section dwells on the dependence of cross-section estimates on time-series evidence. Three appendices detail the specific algorithms that generate the present estimates; a fourth, a useful sample of firm-specific data.
University Ovuokeroye Edih, Nyanayon Faghawari and Dbright Okiemute Agboro
It has been argued that a mono product economy experiences epileptic growth because it is prone to global dynamics such as epidemic. Therefore, the need to diversify investments…
Abstract
Purpose
It has been argued that a mono product economy experiences epileptic growth because it is prone to global dynamics such as epidemic. Therefore, the need to diversify investments cannot be over-emphasized. Hence, the study examined port operation's efficiency and revenue generation in global maritime trade: implications for national growth and development in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to identify the factors that improve efficiency in port operations, and to ascertain how efficiency of operations will affect revenue generation and national growth.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed correlation and multiple regressions analyses to test the hypothesis which states that port operation's efficiency does not have positive and significant effect on revenue generation in Nigeria. A cross sectional research design and structured questionnaires were deployed in the study and simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 200 respondents.
Findings
Results revealed that efficient port operations affect revenue generation and national development.
Research limitations/implications
Port operations in Nigeria are bedeviled with daunting challenges that hamper smooth and efficient working port's system.
Originality/value
The study suggested that modern port's technologies (ICTs) be deployed to enhance operations in the ports and manpower should be trained on regular intervals to understand modern logistics management techniques in the ports. Third, government should provide port infrastructures being the backbone of efficient port system. Lastly, the private sector should be partnered with in several areas including port's concession to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery in the Nigerian ports.
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Abiola Ayopo Babajide, Demola Obembe, Helen Solomon and Kassa Woldesenbet
This paper examines mechanisms through which social capital strengthens microfinance impact on fostering female entrepreneurial success. Specifically, the study focuses on how…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines mechanisms through which social capital strengthens microfinance impact on fostering female entrepreneurial success. Specifically, the study focuses on how, and to what extent, resources embedded in social networks determine MF impact on entrepreneurial success.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 276 female micro-institutions entrepreneurs using multi-stage stratified random sampling across 80 MF institutions in three South-Western Nigerian states. Hypotheses were tested using ordinal regression analysis.
Findings
The study found that relational and network social capital had a positive and significant influence on female entrepreneurial success. Specifically, intra-group trust and productive network ties amongst female entrepreneurs in poor communities predicated the positive impact of MF on entrepreneurial success. Also, resources embedded in networks are more positively correlated to education level and marital status. Furthermore, MF could have more positive impact for borrowers with sustainable relationships with loan officers who organise MF provisions and understand the entrepreneurs’ context.
Originality/value
The research provides empirical evidence for the relationship dynamics between female entrepreneurs and MF institutions, by emphasising the importance of deploying different forms of social capital in sustaining MF impact on female entrepreneurial success.
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Sai Srinivas Sriperumbudur, Michael Meilunas and Martin Anselm
Solder paste printing is the most common method for attaching surface mount devices to printed circuit boards (PCB), and it has been reported that a majority of all assembly…
Abstract
Purpose
Solder paste printing is the most common method for attaching surface mount devices to printed circuit boards (PCB), and it has been reported that a majority of all assembly defects occur during the stencil printing process. It is also recognized that the solder paste printing process is wholly responsible for the solder joint formation of leadless package technologies such as land grid array (LGA) and quad-flat no-lead (QFN) components and therefore is a determining factor in the long-term reliability of said devices. The aim of this experiment is to determine the acceptable lower limit for solder paste volume deposit tolerances during stencil printing process to ensure both good assembly yield and reliability expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
Stencils with modified aperture dimensions at particular locations for LGA and QFN package footprints were designed to vary the solder paste volume deposited during the stencil printing process. Solder paste volumes were measured using solder paste inspection system. Low volume solder paste deposits were generated using the modified stencil designs to evaluate assemble yield. Accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) was used to determine the reliability of the solder joints. Failure analysis was used to determine if the failure was attributed to the low paste volume locations.
Findings
Solder joints formed with nominal paste volume survived longer in ATC compared to intentionally low volume joints. Transfer efficiency numbers for both good assembly yield and good reliability are reported for LGA and QFN devices. A lower volume limit is reported for leadless devices that should not significantly affect yield and reliability in thermal cycling.
Originality/value
Very little literature is available on solder paste volume tolerance limits in terms of assembly yield and reliability. Manufacturers often use ±50 or ±30 per cent of stencil aperture volume with no evidence of its effectiveness in determining yield and reliability of the solder joints.
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C. Andersson, B. Vandevelde, C. Noritake, P. Sun, P.E. Tegehall, D.R. Andersson, G. Wetter and J. Liu
The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of different temperature cycling profiles on the reliability of lead‐free 388 plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages and to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of different temperature cycling profiles on the reliability of lead‐free 388 plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages and to deeply understand crack initiation and propagation.
Design/methodology/approach
Temperature cycling of Sn‐3.8Ag‐0.7Cu PBGA packages was carried out at two temperature profiles, the first ranging between −55°C and 100°C (TC1) and the second between 0°C and 100°C (TC2). Crack initiation and propagation was analyzed periodically and totally 7,000 cycles were run for TC1 and 14,500 for TC2. Finite element modeling (FEM), for the analysis of strain and stress, was used to corroborate the experimental results.
Findings
The paper finds that TC1 had a characteristic life of 5,415 cycles and TC2 of 14,094 cycles, resulting in an acceleration factor of 2.6 between both profiles. Cracks were first visible for TC1, after 2,500 cycles, and only after 4,000 cycles for TC2. The crack propagation rate was faster for TC1 compared to TC2, and faster at the package side compared to the substrate side. The difference in crack propagation rate between the package side and substrate side was much larger for TC1 compared to TC2. Cracks developed first at the package side, and were also larger compared to the substrate side. The Cu tracks on the substrate side affected the crack propagation sites and behaved as SMD. All cracks propagated through the solder and crack propagation was mainly intergranular. Crack propagation was very random and did not follow the distance to neutral point (DNP) theory. FEM corroborated the experimental results, showing both the same critical location of highest creep strain and the independence of DNP.
Originality/value
Such extensive work on the reliability assessment of Pb‐free 388 PBGA packages has never been performed. This work also corroborates the results from other studies showing the difference in behavior between Pb‐free and Pb‐containing alloys.
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Mohammad A. Gharaibeh and James M. Pitarresi
Because of growing demand for slim, thin and cheap handheld devices, reduced-volume solder interconnects like land grid array (LGA) are becoming attractive and popular choices…
Abstract
Purpose
Because of growing demand for slim, thin and cheap handheld devices, reduced-volume solder interconnects like land grid array (LGA) are becoming attractive and popular choices over the traditional ball grid array (BGA) packages. This study aims to investigate the mechanical shock and impact reliability of various solder alloys and BGA/LGA interconnect configurations.
Design/methodology/approach
Therefore, this paper uses drop testing experiments and numerical finite element simulations to evaluate and compare the reliability performance of both LGA and BGA components when exposed to drop and impact loadings. Additionally, three common solder alloys, including 63Sn37Pb, SAC305 and Innolot, are discussed.
Findings
The results of this study showed that electronic packages’ drop and impact reliability is strongly driven by the solder configuration and the alloy type. Particularly, the combination of stiff solder alloy and shorter joint, LGA’s assembled with SAC305, results in highly improved drop reliability. Moreover, the BGA packages’ performance can be considerably enhanced by using ductile and compliant solder alloys, that is, 63Sn37Pb. Finally, this paper discussed the failure mode of the various solder configurations and used simulation results to explain the crack and failure situations.
Originality/value
In literature, there is a lack of published work on the drop and impact reliability evaluation and comparison of LGA and BGA solders. This paper provides quantitative analysis on the reliability of lead-based and lead-free solders when assembled with LGA and BGA interconnects.
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The purpose of this study aims to synthesize a novel donor–acceptor dye based on phenothiazine as a donor (D) and nonconjugated spacer was devised and synthesized by condensing of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study aims to synthesize a novel donor–acceptor dye based on phenothiazine as a donor (D) and nonconjugated spacer was devised and synthesized by condensing of 2,2'-(1H-indene-1,3(2H)-diylidene) dimalononitrile with aldehyde and the practical synthesis methodology as given in Scheme 1.
Design/methodology/approach
The prepared phenothiazine dye was systematically experimentally and theoretically examined and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H,13C NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (IR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory DT-DFT calculations were implemented to determine the electronic properties of the new dye
Findings
The UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the synthesized dye was investigated in a variety of solvents with varying polarities to demonstrate positive solvatochromism correlated with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The probe’s quantum yields (Фf) are experimentally measured in ethanol, and the Stokes shifts are found to be in the 4846–9430 cm−1 range.
Originality/value
The findings depicted that the novel (D-π-A) chromophores may act as a significant factor in the organic optoelectronics.
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Carlos Fernando Ordóñez Vizcaíno, Cecilia Téllez Valle and Pilar Giráldez Puig
The aim of this paper is to analyse the spillover effects of microcredit on the economy of Ecuador, with a particular focus on its potential as a poverty alleviation mechanism.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to analyse the spillover effects of microcredit on the economy of Ecuador, with a particular focus on its potential as a poverty alleviation mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
To address our research questions, we take into account the distance between cantons (Ecuador’s own administrative distribution) by adopting a spatial autoregressive (SAR) model. To this end, a database will be constructed with macroeconomic information about the country, broken down by canton (administrative division of Ecuador), and in a 2019 cross section, with a total of 1,331 microcredit operations in all 221 of Ecuador’s cantons.
Findings
We find a positive effect of microcredit on these neighbouring regions in terms of wealth generation.
Research limitations/implications
We acknowledge that this study is limited to Ecuadorian cantons. Nonetheless, it is crucial to emphasize that focussing on an under-represented developing country like Ecuador adds significant value to the research.
Practical implications
Facilitating access to microcredit is one of the main solutions to address the goals proposed in the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Social implications
Microcredit activity contributes to the creation of value and wealth in Ecuador, exerting a spillover effect in neighbouring areas that can generate positive multiplier effects and alleviate poverty. For all of the above reasons, our proposal for the country is to support and promote microcredit as one of the main solutions to address the goals proposed in the SDGs.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in the use of spatial econometrics to observe the indirect effects of microcredit on the regions bordering the canton in which it was issued, thus examining the spatial effects of microcredit on wealth distribution.
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Mohamed A. Ayadi, Walid Ben Omrane, Jiayu Wang and Robert Welch
This study aims to better understand the effects of speeches as a valuable communication tool for central banks. It extends the analysis of the effects of public speeches on jumps…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to better understand the effects of speeches as a valuable communication tool for central banks. It extends the analysis of the effects of public speeches on jumps to determine whether individual speakers matter partly because of their name, position or institution.
Design/methodology/approach
This study detects intraday jumps using a robust-to-jump volatility estimator that accounts for deterministic seasonality. As a result, this study removes spurious jumps that occur when volatility is high and consider the relatively small jumps that occur when volatility is low. After identifying jumps, this study examines their reactions to senior official speeches and macroeconomic news surrounding the US and European Union (EU) financial crises.
Findings
Despite having the most influential individual speakers, this study finds that the impact of the Federal Reserve (Fed) and European Central Bank (ECB) is mitigated because the two institutions have a relatively small impact on currency jumps. This finding shows that the speaker’s name is more important than his or her institution affiliation. While the Federal Reserve Bank President and Chief Executive, as well as ECB board members, significantly reduce jump sizes, particularly during the EU crisis period, both the Fed Chairman and the ECB President increase the magnitude of the jump in both the US crisis and noncrisis periods, contributing to market instability.
Practical implications
The implications of the results include international portfolio management, currency derivatives pricing and hedging, risk management and market efficiency.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to a better understanding of the effects of senior official speech attributes on currency jumps in various economic states. The results raise questions about the speaker’s name, institution and position’s effectiveness in calming markets and reducing uncertainty.
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