Search results
1 – 10 of 178Through this chapter, readers are ferried through the Presidency of Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the President of Botswana from 1998- 2008. His Presidency occurred during the…
Abstract
Through this chapter, readers are ferried through the Presidency of Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the President of Botswana from 1998- 2008. His Presidency occurred during the debilitating period of the HIV/AIDS scourge, the African blood diamonds brandishing label by the developed world and the drought that menacingly swept through Botswana leaving the nation distraught and poverty stricken. Despite all the hurdles and volcanoes enveloping his presidency, Mogae shouldered the leadership responsibility squarely and emerged victorious through the utilization of effective communication channels, the implementation of versatile leadership skills that valued collaborative partnerships and consultation, and the practicing of good corporate governance principles that became the hallmarks of integrity and ethical standards that shaped the character of his leadership. More importantly, Mogae embarked on the war against the HIV/AIDS scourge with resilience, hope and positivism that were equally unparalleled in outcome and success. Through an analysis of documents, a systematic review of critical events that shaped his presidency is described.
Details
Keywords
P. Gaussier, C. Joulain, J.P. Banquet, A. Revel, S. Lepretre and S. Moga
Psychology and neurobiology nowadays provide a large amount of precise information on visual system function. This information can be used in the design of autonomous systems…
Abstract
Psychology and neurobiology nowadays provide a large amount of precise information on visual system function. This information can be used in the design of autonomous systems capable of learning and recognising objects and places important for survival in complex unknown (real or virtual) environments. Our work is based on the principles that perception is fundamentally a dynamic process in constant interaction with movement; and that learning can be made simpler if the systems are not required to learn the invariants of their environment (e.g. preservation of neighbour topological relations, or connectivity of the space). The techniques that contribute to devising these adaptive systems in continuous interaction with their environment could significantly influence our approach to programming and the man‐machine interface.
Details
Keywords
Paraskevi Th. Zacharia and Andreas C. Nearchou
This paper considers the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem of type-2 (ALWABP-2) with fuzzy task times. This problem is an extension of the (simple) SALBP-2 in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper considers the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem of type-2 (ALWABP-2) with fuzzy task times. This problem is an extension of the (simple) SALBP-2 in which task times are worker-dependent and concurrently uncertain. Two criteria are simultaneously considered for minimization, namely, fuzzy cycle time and fuzzy smoothness index.
Design/methodology/approach
First, we show how fuzzy concepts can be used for managing uncertain task times. Then, we present a multiobjective genetic algorithm (MOGA) to solve the problem. MOGA is devoted to the search for Pareto-optimal solutions. For facilitating effective trade-off decision-making, two different MO approaches are implemented and tested within MOGA: a weighted-sum based approach and a Pareto-based approach.
Findings
Experiments over a set of fuzzified test problems show the effect of these approaches on the performance of MOGA while verifying its efficiency in terms of both solution and time quality.
Originality/value
To the author’s knowledge, no previous published work in the literature has studied the biobjective assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem of type-2 (ALWABP-2) with fuzzy task times.
Details
Keywords
AFRICA: Leadership prize will not improve governance
David R. Gerhan and Stephen M. Mutula
To examine the technical reasons for excessively slow internet speeds at the University of Botswana, to discover the present state of development efforts addressing such examples…
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the technical reasons for excessively slow internet speeds at the University of Botswana, to discover the present state of development efforts addressing such examples of the qualitative digital divide, and to recommend remedies.
Design/methodology/approach
Surveys of students, the authors' professional experiences, and reports from corporate, public, and intergovernmental organizations provided insights into the effects – and causes – of internet slowdown.
Findings
Bandwidth bottlenecks were identified in successive stages of intercontinental internet traffic. Causes included network design and capacity, telecommunications regulations, and competing budgetary demands within Botswana.
Research limitations/implications
Much of the literature on the digital divide has stressed plentiful hardware and internet connections in affluent societies versus their scarcity in developing societies. This study illustrates that hardware and connections are necessary but not sufficient for adequate online performance. Technological advance and development can each stimulate the other, and that two‐way interconnection necessitates more than a simple call for more spending to increase developing countries' bandwidth. The paper presents recommendations in addition to higher funding.
Originality/value
Student and other micro‐level data serve as measures for the local performance of a global utility, the internet. Tracking message transmission uncovers bottlenecks along the path of the intercontinental internet, specifically as it reaches Africa. These “street‐level” approaches can assist the international aid community, the telecommunications industry, and the public sector in Botswana and elsewhere in removing obstacles to the internet as a potentially important tool for national‐ and human‐development.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to move beyond the limits of creating shared value (CSV) by presenting a norms-driven framework for creating shared value.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to move beyond the limits of creating shared value (CSV) by presenting a norms-driven framework for creating shared value.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper combines insights from organizational studies and philosophy to critique CSV and to articulate an alternative model for integrating the pursuit of profit with social needs and demands.
Findings
CSV poses significant challenges for managers due to the problem of bounded rationality. Rather than merely engaging in a logic of consequence, this paper argues that managers should integrate norms-based reasoning within the cognitive process of strategic management.
Originality/value
This paper critiques an existing framework for creating shared value and proposes a new framework.
Details
Keywords
This chapter examines the influence of external public borrowing resources on economic progress in Tunisia. The study focuses on two stages: First, the influence is studied in a…
Abstract
This chapter examines the influence of external public borrowing resources on economic progress in Tunisia. The study focuses on two stages: First, the influence is studied in a direct sense and then in an indirect sense, i.e., through a transmission channel of this influence. By applying the autoregressive distributed technique with staggered lags (ARDL), over a period ranging from 1986 to 2019, the results showed that the influence of external borrowing resources on growth seems to be unfavorable in the short term but positive in the long term, hence the importance of the empirical technique chosen. Second, three interaction variables were tested, namely total government expenditure, government investment expenditure, and the real effective exchange rate. The results obtained call for better attention to the channels identified to maximize the positive influence of external public debt on the country's economic progress.
Details
Keywords
In 2015, NESTLÉ India underwent a major crisis as the product which contributed to nearly 30% of its sales had to be taken off the shelves. Maggi—the go-to convenience food for…
Abstract
In 2015, NESTLÉ India underwent a major crisis as the product which contributed to nearly 30% of its sales had to be taken off the shelves. Maggi—the go-to convenience food for all generations (especially kids and young adults)—which had entered the market in 1983, was banned. With a market share of 70-80% before the ban, NESTLÉ, which got the ban lifted in November 2015, had to undergo the task of winning back the lost market. Over a period of 8 months after its relaunch, the brand regained about 60% of its market back, but the question is how could such brand disaster be avoided in future? The case revolves around a major brand recovering from a brand disaster, and whether they did it well enough or could the situation have been managed better. It also enquires as to what road should be taken forward from here. It notes the action taken by the government against the brand and leaves it to the judgment of the readers if the actions taken against the brand were a little too harsh, solely because MNCs are usually considered a soft target in India. The readers must also understand and analyse the different brand relaunch strategies that were adopted by NESTLÉ and the next steps that should be taken by it.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to study the formation mechanism of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating on AZ31 magnesium alloy and how the annealing process affects its corrosion resistance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study involved immersion experiments, electrochemical experiments and slow strain rate tensile experiments, along with scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy observation and X-ray diffraction analysis.
Findings
The findings suggest that annealing treatment can refine the grain size of AZ31 magnesium alloy to an average of 6.9 µm at 300°C. The change in grain size leads to a change in conductivity, which affects the performance of MAO coatings. The MAO coating obtained by annealing the substrate at 300°C has smaller pores and porosity, resulting in better adhesion and wear resistance.
Originality/value
The coating acts as a barrier to prevent corrosive substances from entering the substrate. However, the smaller pores and porosity reduce the channels for the corrosive solution to pass through the coating. When the coating cracks or falls off, the corrosive medium and substrate come into direct contact. Smaller and uniform grains have better corrosion resistance.
Details
Keywords
Jia-Min Peng, Xin-Hua Guan and Tzung-Cheng Huan
This study aims to explore the concept of frontline employee’s brand sabotage behaviour (BSB) and the influencing factors of BSB in the hotels and their partner travel agencies…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the concept of frontline employee’s brand sabotage behaviour (BSB) and the influencing factors of BSB in the hotels and their partner travel agencies from the perspective of perceived justice and establishes a moderating mechanism based on emotional resource supplementation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper developed a measurement scale of BSB through interviews with hotel employees and multiple rounds of questionnaire surveys in Study 1 and tested the research model and hypotheses using a structural equation model analysis in Study 2.
Findings
The results of multiple rounds of surveys indicate that a positive perception of procedural justice helps to restrain employees from implementing BSB but the employee’s perceived customer injustice can directly stimulate not only the BSB but also reduce employees’ perception of the level of procedural justice. However, when employees’ self-efficacy for emotional regulation is higher, the positive relationship between customer injustice and BSB and the negative impact on procedural justice is weakened.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that managers should implement practices to suppress BSB by actively managing the service interaction process and reduce the instances of unjust customer behaviours, while preventing employees from sabotaging brands at both organizational and employee levels by promoting organizational procedural justice and employees’ self-efficacy for emotional regulation.
Originality/value
The research results enrich the discussion on the integration of resources in the process of value co-creation and the common sabotage of brand value caused by resource abuse. Further, this study also supplements and perfects the theory of service brand management.
Details