Search results
1 – 10 of 178K.K. Klein, A.M. Walburger, Faminow, B. Larue, R. Romain and K. Foster
Examines the hog marketing system in Canada and the development of single‐desk hog marketing agencies, acting as central selling agencies, which have made an important…
Abstract
Examines the hog marketing system in Canada and the development of single‐desk hog marketing agencies, acting as central selling agencies, which have made an important contribution in enhancing the pork supply chain. Reports the results of a 1995 survey, soliciting opinions from representatives of meat packers, provincial marketing agencies and producers across Canada, from which a framework was developed to evaluate the efficiency of five main areas: production and distribution; equitable distribution of rewards; growth in pork processing; investment opportunities; and degree of competition. Emphasizes the vulnerability of the Canadian pork sector to increased competition from producers in other countries, and stresses the need for Canada to develop an effective supply chain in order to maximize its potential in this sector.
Details
Keywords
Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya, Arunditya Sahay, Ashok Pratap Arora and Abha Chaturvedi
The purpose of this paper is to attempt to develop a framework that will help managers to design firm level corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives which can be of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to attempt to develop a framework that will help managers to design firm level corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives which can be of strategic interest for an organisation.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews concepts from the domains of strategic management and CSR literature. The concepts are deliberated and analyzed to build up a strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework. The article starts by identifying the salient stakeholders of a firm, based on the three stakeholder attributes of power, legitimacy, and urgency. The framework then talks about the identification of a firm's interest in CSR, on the basis of firm value chain, context of competitiveness and intention of creating new business opportunities. Finally, this literature talks about the expected benefits to be achieved by carrying out strategic CSR initiatives.
Findings
In a competitive atmosphere, it is important to utilize the firm resources in a proper manner and for a worthy cause. The undertaking of CSR initiatives calls for the sacrifice of firm resources. Resources are scarce and valuable. Managers can design CSR initiatives in a number of ways. But the real challenge for managers is to design firm CSR strategy in such a manner that it helps address a social issue and also provides the organization with some business benefits.
Originality/value
Though managers are aware of the need and benefits of undertaking strategic CSR, a comprehensive theoretical framework which can guide CSR managers to design and implement CSR activities for strategic gains is not present. This study provides for such an integrated framework from the stage of identification of stakeholders, to the design of CSR, to the nature of strategic gains to be incurred.
Details
Keywords
Rebecca Schiff and Charles Z. Levkoe
Academic and popular literatures have addressed growing concerns about the ways we produce, harvest, distribute, and consume food; manage fisheries and inputs to agriculture; and…
Abstract
Academic and popular literatures have addressed growing concerns about the ways we produce, harvest, distribute, and consume food; manage fisheries and inputs to agriculture; and deal with waste. Throughout the 20th century, a series of issue-specific frames emerged that explicitly addressed issues of social justice, the environment, and human health in the food system. During the mid-1990s that comprehensive master frames were established in attempts to bring disparate ideas and actions together into a more inclusive food movement. In this chapter, we explore the development of these collective action frames and turn to Canada as a case study to examine the key moments that have brought together diverse actors through collaborative networks to assert their place within a broader social movement. We argue that recognizing the increasing development of food networks and making these relationships visible opens new theoretical and practical possibilities for food system transformation.
Details
Keywords
A large amount of resources are spent each year on management training for Sub‐Saharan Africa. For example, in fiscal years 1984 and 1985, the World Bank alone committed an…
Abstract
A large amount of resources are spent each year on management training for Sub‐Saharan Africa. For example, in fiscal years 1984 and 1985, the World Bank alone committed an average of US$25 million per year for management training. The overall figure, combining all countries and donors, would be much higher. Worldwide, the Bank committed US$240 million for all types of training in 1985. These funds are used for fellowships, hardware, local training, study tours and expatriate experts. Training in the developing world is big business and the effectiveness of that training in improving organisational performance is important. The efficiency and effectiveness of management training is important for reasons beyond simple return on these large investments.
There is a rich debate on the nature of Islamic banking (IB)–growth nexus and the direction of causality governing this nexus. This study aims to focus on this issue in the case…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a rich debate on the nature of Islamic banking (IB)–growth nexus and the direction of causality governing this nexus. This study aims to focus on this issue in the case of Saudi Arabia, the largest country-holder of Islamic Banks (IBs)’ assets worldwide. It assesses empirically the nature of dynamic interactions between IBs’ financing and the real performances in the non-oil private sector (investment and GDP) in the context of a dual banking system where IBs operate alongside their conventional counterparts.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs the Bounds test in the context of reparametrized autoregression distribution lags (ARDL) models to analyse both long-run and short-run dynamics governing Islamic and conventional banks’ (CBs) financings on one hand and real investment and GDP in the private sector on the other hand over the 2007q1-2016q4 period. It also uses the Toda and Yamamoto (1995) augmented Granger-causality test to assess the direction of causality governing these dynamics.
Findings
The more important results are: there is a stable and significant long-run relationship between IBs’ financing and real performances in the private sector. This nexus is governed by the “feed-back hypothesis”, implying the validity of both the “supply-leading” and the “demand-following” hypotheses. In a dual banking system context, IBs exert two effects on the financing of their conventional counterparts: a negative “crowding-out” effect and a positive and “stimulating” effect which transmits through the “competition” channel. Finally, in the long-run, steady-state, real GDP is dissociated from CBs’ financing.
Originality/value
This paper highlights an issue that has not received the needed attention in the case of Saudi Arabia. It has also found novel results with important policy implications.
Details
Keywords
Gustavo Barboza, Laura Gavinelli, Valerien Pede, Alice Mazzucchelli and Angelo Di Gregorio
The purpose is to detect the nonlinearity wholesale rice price formation process in Italy in the 1995–2017 period.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is to detect the nonlinearity wholesale rice price formation process in Italy in the 1995–2017 period.
Design/methodology/approach
A nonlinear smooth transition autoregressive (STAR)-type dynamics model is used.
Findings
Wholesale rice prices are significantly affected by variations in the international price of rice as well as variations in Arborio price.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations include policy recommendations for the production and commercialization of rice in Italy.
Practical implications
Understanding rice pricing dynamics and nonlinearity behavior is pivotal for the survival of the entire European and Italian rice supply chain.
Originality/value
In the extant literature, no evidence exists on non-linearity of rice prices in Italy.
Details
Keywords
Alim Belek and Abega Ngono Jean Marie
Does MFIs agricultural credit influence the determinants of the efficiency of SFF which are socio-economic factors of the farmers but also agricultural endowments of family farms…
Abstract
Purpose
Does MFIs agricultural credit influence the determinants of the efficiency of SFF which are socio-economic factors of the farmers but also agricultural endowments of family farms? This paper aims to study the contribution of MFI services on improving the technical efficiency of SFFs in Cameroon.
Design/methodology/approach
The stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model permits the estimation of the technical efficiency indicators for beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries of agricultural credits on a sample of 130 cocoa farming households and four MFIs of the same area between 2008 and 2011. The censored tobit model is used to assess the determinants of technical efficiency.
Findings
The results show that the SFF beneficiaries of agricultural credit have an average technical efficiency of 0.68 inferior to that of nonbeneficiaries (0.72) as expected. They are, respectively, at 0.32 and 0.28 of their full productive capacities. The results of the censored Tobit model show that socioeconomic characteristics of the producer such as age and gender explain negatively, while experience explains positively the technical efficiency of SFFs.
Research limitations/implications
Although without any selectivity bias, this study indicates the essential character of the socioeconomic factors in the amplification of the role of the MFIs credit on the efficiency of SFFs.
Practical implications
Strategies to improve the efficiency of SFFs require an increase in MFI credits, primarily targeting young, experienced and female farmers.
Originality/value
This study examines the efficiency of SFFs by highlighting the interaction between the socio-economic factors of farmers and the credit of MFIs. It also points to the problem of monitoring the implementation of agricultural financing.
Details
Keywords
Kevin Burgess, Prakash J. Singh and Rana Koroglu
The field of supply chain management (SCM) has historically been informed by knowledge from narrow functional areas. While some effort towards producing a broader organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
The field of supply chain management (SCM) has historically been informed by knowledge from narrow functional areas. While some effort towards producing a broader organizational perspective has been made, nonetheless, SCM continues to be largely eclectic with little consensus on its conceptualization and research methodological bases. This paper seeks to clarify aspects of this emerging perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 100 randomly selected refereed journal articles were systematically analyzed.
Findings
A number of key findings emerged: the field is a relatively “new” one; several disciplines claim ownership of the field; consensus is lacking on the definition of the term; contextual focus is mostly on the manufacturing industry; predominantly “process” conceptual framing prevails; research methods employed are mostly analytical conceptual, empirical surveys or case studies; the positivist research paradigmatic stance is prevalent; and theories related to transaction cost economics and competitive advantage dominate.
Originality/value
This review identifies various conceptual and research methodological characteristics of SCM. From a philosophy of knowledge perspective, it is suggested that SCM be framed as a Lakatosian Research Program, for this has the best potential to assist in the development of SCM body of knowledge in a sustainable way into the future.
Details
Keywords
Othmane Touri, Rida Ahroum and Boujemâa Achchab
The displaced commercial risk is one of the specific risks in the Islamic finance that creates a serious debate among practitioners and researchers about its management. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The displaced commercial risk is one of the specific risks in the Islamic finance that creates a serious debate among practitioners and researchers about its management. The purpose of this paper is to assess a new approach to manage this risk using machine learning algorithms.
Design/methodology/approach
To attempt this purpose, the authors use several machine learning algorithms applied to a set of financial data related to banks from different regions and consider the deposit variation intensity as an indicator.
Findings
Results show acceptable prediction accuracy. The model could be used to optimize the prudential reserves for banks and the incomes distributed to depositors.
Research limitations/implications
However, the model uses several variables as proxies since data are not available for some specific indicators, such as the profit equalization reserves and the investment risk reserves.
Originality/value
Previous studies have analyzed the origin and impact of DCR. To the best of authors’ knowledge, none of them has provided an ex ante management tool for this risk. Furthermore, the authors suggest the use of a new approach based on machine learning algorithms.
Details
Keywords
Taciana Mareth, Antônio Márcio Tavares Thomé, Luiz Felipe Scavarda and Fernando Luiz Cyrino Oliveira
This systematic literature review integrates the findings of existing studies regarding technical efficiency (TE) in dairy farms. The purpose of this paper is to offer a research…
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic literature review integrates the findings of existing studies regarding technical efficiency (TE) in dairy farms. The purpose of this paper is to offer a research framework that assembles TE descriptors, a classification of previous literature that provides the basis for the synthesis and research agenda.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper systematically reviews 86 survey research studies using rigorous and reproducible procedures. The review is applied to published survey research.
Findings
The framework relates context, inputs, outputs and metrics of TE. There is no agreement among the authors on the context and determinants of TE. The main determinants of TE are geographical location, farm size, investments in veterinary care, feeding and milking practice, TE model estimation techniques, public policy, and management-related variables. This paper offers ten propositions for future research on the controversial results on the determinants of TE. The authors also explore the reasons for the discrepant results based on the Debreu-Farrell’s definition of TE, the contingency theory and the resource-based view of the firm, elucidating the literature and serving as a basis for future investigation. Implications for dairy farmers and researchers close the review.
Originality/value
Meta-analysis and meta-regression studies were long at the forefront of reviews in the TE of dairy farms. This paper offers a novel qualitative research synthesis with frameworks and the classification of previous literature and a research agenda, which provides a new and different perspective for analysis, by innovating over the available quantitative procedures to combine statistical results.
Details