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1 – 10 of 138The case illustrates an entrepreneurial voyage and venture creation and through it helps in identifying the reasons and causes for that venture's failure. It also enables…
Abstract
The case illustrates an entrepreneurial voyage and venture creation and through it helps in identifying the reasons and causes for that venture's failure. It also enables discussion on the importance of planning a venture, more importantly; financing, managing, growing, and ending a venture and on how to avoid the pitfalls that befall such enterprises. This case can be used in Entrepreneurship courses as well as MBA, PGP and Executive Education programmes on Entrepreneurship.
Nisakorn Somsuk, Jarunee Wonglimpiyarat and Tritos Laosirihongthong
The purpose of this paper is to determine enabling factors influencing the success of technology business incubators (TBIs) with respect to existing and acquired resources, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine enabling factors influencing the success of technology business incubators (TBIs) with respect to existing and acquired resources, and describe how these enabling factors have been implemented in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The potential enabling factors were identified based on the literature review through the lens of the resource‐based view (RBV) perspective. The Q‐sort method was then applied to classify those factors according to the experts' opinions, for evoking group consensus on the classifications. Finally, a Thailand science park incubator was taken as a case to illustrate the applicability of the findings.
Findings
The strategic resources and their categories which can be considered as TBIs' enabling factors were found through the RBV theory. They are important to TBIs' success and improvement of technology‐based SMEs' competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the lack of international comparisons and the experts' panel selection bias, attempts to generalize the findings should be made with caution.
Practical implications
The findings have been formulated into a set of comprehensive recommendations for all stakeholders (mainly public policy makers), which will help to enhance the development of business incubation in Thailand.
Originality/value
The paper presents an approach to determine enabling factors influencing the successful TBIs, coming from the RBV perspective.
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Thillai Rajan A., R. Siddharth and S.P. Mukund
Public‐private partnerships (PPPs) are being frequently used today to private sector investment in road projects. Most of the road PPP projects are either for new roads or for…
Abstract
Purpose
Public‐private partnerships (PPPs) are being frequently used today to private sector investment in road projects. Most of the road PPP projects are either for new roads or for those that involve significant expansion of existing capacity. There are limited instances of PPPs for renovating and maintenance of existing roads. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the applicability of using PPPs for road renovation and maintenance projects.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a case‐study approach since it is an appropriate strategy to investigate a phenomenon within its real life context. The East Coast Road project was chosen for the study because it was the first project in India to use PPP for road renovation and maintenance, and being the first project of its kind, the case was of general public interest.
Findings
The paper indicates that risk levels in Rehabilitate, Improve, Maintain, Operate and Transfer (RIMOT) projects are lower than Greenfield BOT projects. Even in areas like renovation and maintenance, PPP structures can bring many advantages over traditional procurement.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has the limitations attributable to single case studies. There is a need to extend this paper to include more such case studies to evaluate their relevance for infrastructure development, particularly in emerging countries.
Practical implications
PPP structures can be useful for renovating and maintaining the existing roads. Modalities such as the RIMOT framework can have greater potential than the conventional BOT structures. Private investments in infrastructure can also be through a corporate finance structure.
Originality/value
This paper describes and analyzes the experience of India's first PPP for renovation and maintenance. The findings of this paper would have value for policy makers who are interested in attracting private sector finance and expertise in infrastructure and more specifically in roads.
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Public–private partnerships (PPPs) have been demonstrated to be an effective (although not universally successful) tool for the delivery of infrastructure and infrastructure-based…
Abstract
Public–private partnerships (PPPs) have been demonstrated to be an effective (although not universally successful) tool for the delivery of infrastructure and infrastructure-based services. For PPPs to achieve optimum results, the service outputs should be inclusive, i.e., they should be available to as wide a spectrum of society as possible, regardless of income level, gender or ethnic background. In developing countries, many PPPs are reliant upon user fees to create the revenue streams that enable private parties to provide such basic services as power, water, wastewater and transport. When these user fees act as barriers to service access (i.e., they are unaffordable to potential recipients of the service), what are the policy and contractual options which may make the services more universally accessible? This chapter examines three PPP projects from different sectors which have utilized creative mechanisms to enhance affordability and expand the user base: the Pamir Power project in eastern Tajikistan; the urban water PPP in Dakar, Senegal and the East Coast Toll Road in Tamil Nadu, India. Based upon these examples, the chapter will draw conclusions on how this experience can be more broadly applied and made a part of the PPP planning process in developing countries to achieve more affordable and sustainable growth.
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Abstract
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Ankan Mukherjee Das, Kumar Dron Shrivastav, Neha Taneja, Aanchal Anant Awasthi, Shazia Rashid, Ajay Gogia and Rajiv Janardhanan
Breast cancer (BC) presents a major public health challenge world-over including India. While several risk-factors, early signs and symptoms of BC are known, the knowledge and…
Abstract
Purpose
Breast cancer (BC) presents a major public health challenge world-over including India. While several risk-factors, early signs and symptoms of BC are known, the knowledge and awareness of this disease remains poor among the population. The present study aimed to determine the extent of knowledge and awareness of BC, its risk factors, early signs and symptoms and breast self-examination (BSE) practice as an early detection method among Indian college-going female students.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey at a University in Delhi-NCR. Data on socio-demographic, knowledge and awareness of BC including BSE was collected using a pretested questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis was performed. All tests were two-sided and significance was set at p < 0.05.
Findings
A total of 866 female students participated in the study with mean age of 22.32 (±0.146) years having mean body mass index (BMI) of 21.22 (±3.52). As high as 82.1% of the participants had heard of BC but while 74.8% thought early detection is possible, 70.7% believed BC cannot be prevented. Gene mutations (60.2%) were identified as a significant risk factor, while breast pain (61.4%) was commonly recognized as a sign of BC. Only 29.8% of students ever performed BSE. Increased odds of performing BSE (OR = 3.4) was found among students who recognized gene mutations as an important BC risk factor.
Research limitations/implications
Knowledge and awareness of BC including BSE among female college students were found to be below average. It is suggested that there is an urgent need for increasing BC awareness among young girls through workshops and mobile-health interventions.
Practical implications
This study provides new information on the level of knowledge and awareness of BC risk factors, sign and symptoms and self-examination practice among young college girls. Moreover, this study advocates the need for design and implementation of a sustainable digital health model for active population BC screening, which is not being done currently.
Social implications
BC is a highly aggressive disease, which is now one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in India and world over. Although the knowledge of BC risk factors and its signs and symptoms have increased, the awareness of these elements among the general population at large is low and/or missing, especially in India. Furthermore, as a consequence of unorganized screening programs in the country, majority of women are presenting young with locally advanced disease. Understanding the existing level of knowledge and educating school, college and University students of the pertinent factors and screening practices such as BSE could drastically help in improving the self-screening and/or clinical examination rates. This could potentially lead to early detection and improved prognosis, thus ameliorating disease burden.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few studies conducted in India among young female college students belonging to non-medical backgrounds, delineating the level of knowledge and awareness of BC risk factors and signs and symptoms along with practice of early detection method such as BSE. The study has a considerable sample size and provides valuable evidence for a need to implement programs incorporating digital health models for accelerating awareness and screening of young girls in both rural and urban settings.
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Koyeli Girigoswami, Agnishwar Girigoswami, A. Harini and J. Thanujashree
Menstruation is a part of the female reproductive cycle that begins with adolescence. Menstruation is a natural change; it relates to several malpractices and misconceptions that…
Abstract
Purpose
Menstruation is a part of the female reproductive cycle that begins with adolescence. Menstruation is a natural change; it relates to several malpractices and misconceptions that may contribute to adverse health outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have searched relevant papers using Google Scholar and PubMed to write this mini review.
Findings
During menstruation, poor hygiene maintenance can cause serious illness, which includes the urinary tract and reproductive tract infection. Menstruation management is a hygienic system, and it is essential for females because poor hygiene maintenance during menstruation can cause some infections and numerous sexually transmitted diseases. There are a few nanotechnology-based products that have come into the market to offer some relief to females during their periods.
Originality/value
This mini review will help researchers to design innovative female hygiene products that can relieve the discomfort caused to women during their reproductive age.
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Robert Osei-Kyei, Vivian Tam and Mingxue Ma
The growth in ageing population globally has led to the increase in demand for retirement or aged care homes. Adopting public–private partnership (PPP) in the global retirement…
Abstract
Purpose
The growth in ageing population globally has led to the increase in demand for retirement or aged care homes. Adopting public–private partnership (PPP) in the global retirement village market has become the new approach to address some of the emerging challenges. This paper aims to explore and analyse the critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of PPP in the global retirement village market.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with experienced practitioners in the global PPP and retirement village markets. Mean score analysis, normalization range method, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and factor analysis were used for analysis.
Findings
Results show that out of the 27 CSFs identified, the most significant ones in developing PPP retirement village projects are “the age-friendly design of villages”, “appropriate location of PPP retirement village”, “reliable and accessible health and physical facilities” and “effective social inclusion and integration in villages”. Further analysis shows that the 27 CSFs can be grouped into 7 major factor groupings, namely, “effective project monitoring”, “financial support”, “social integration”, “effective contractual arrangement between parties”, “government commitment and support”, “sustainable design of village” and “effective payment structure”.
Originality/value
The outputs of this study will adequately inform retirement village developers, retirement village stakeholders and local government authorities of the best practices they should put in place to ensure the sustainable growth of the global retirement village market.
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Akintayo Opawole, Godwin Onajite Jagboro, Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu and Betty Oluwafunso Olojede
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate critical factors that impact public sector organizations’ (PSOs) performance in PPP contracts with a view to improving their capabilities…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate critical factors that impact public sector organizations’ (PSOs) performance in PPP contracts with a view to improving their capabilities toward efficient project delivery and attracting more private sector investments.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology is a quantitative approach which commenced with an in-depth literature review that provided the basis for identification of the variables that were evaluated through a structured questionnaire. Respondents were professionals from stakeholders’ organizations that had been involved in PPP contracts in the Southwestern region of Nigeria selected using respondent driven sampling technique. These include industrial practitioners from governmental-based organizations (ministries, agencies, corporations/parastatals, etc.), private developers/concessionaires, law firms, and banks, among others. Data collected were analyzed using mean, relative significance index) and factor analysis.
Findings
The critical performance factors of PSOs in concession contracts clustered under nine components. These were technical, legal, political, finance, market maturity, economic, procurement process, performance guarantee and degree of regulation. PSOs’ capability development measure in countries newly experimenting with concession model is expected to focus on these factors for improved project delivery.
Research limitations/implications
The study provided implications for capabilities improvement, legislation and policy making with respect to PPP transactions in countries newly experimenting with PPP contracts. This is highly significant to improving the capabilities of PSOs and attraction of more private sector partnership in infrastructure delivery through the concession model.
Practical implications
The study provided implication for capabilities improvement, legislation and policing with respect to PPP transactions in countries newly experimenting with PPP contracts. This is highly significant to improving the capabilities of PSOs and attraction of more private sector partnership in infrastructure delivery through concession model.
Originality/value
Previous studies on PPP performance had either focused on the projects or generalized the performance assessment to PSOs and private investors. This study extended the researches on PPP performance by revealing factors specific to the public sector stakeholders.
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