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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 April 2018

Desalegn Yayeh Ayal, Maren Radeny, Solomon Desta and Getachew Gebru

Climate variability and extremes adversely affect the livestock sector directly and indirectly by aggravating the prevalence of livestock diseases, distorting production system…

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Abstract

Purpose

Climate variability and extremes adversely affect the livestock sector directly and indirectly by aggravating the prevalence of livestock diseases, distorting production system and the sector profitability. This paper aims to examine climate variability and its impact on livestock system and livestock disease among pastoralists in Borana, Southern Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods using household questionnaire, field observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Areal grid dikadal rainfall and temperatures data from 1985 to 2014 were collected from national meteorological agency. The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed and interpreted using appropriate analytical tools and procedures.

Findings

The result revealed that the study area is hard hit by moisture stress, due to the late onset of rainy seasons, decrease in the number of rainy days and volume of rainfall. The rainfall distribution behavior coupled with the parallel increase in minimum and maximum temperature exacerbated the impact on livestock system and livestock health. Majority of the pastoralists are found to have rightly perceived the very occurrence and manifestations of climate variability and its consequences. Pastoralists are hardly coping with the challenges of climate variability, mainly due to cultural prejudice, poor service delivery and the socio-economic and demographic challenges.

Research limitations/implications

Pastoralists are vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate variability and extreme events.

Practical implications

The finding of the study provides baseline information for practitioners, researchers and policymakers.

Originality/value

This paper provided detailed insights about the rainfall and temperature trend and variability for the past three decades. The finding pointed that pastoralists’ livelihood is under climate variability stress, and it has implications to food insecurity.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2006

Solomon Desta, David Root and C.J. Diederichs

The PMO is seen as an organisational entity entrusted to instil Project Management (PM) practices and culture within an organisation and is portrayed as the focal point of PM…

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Abstract

The PMO is seen as an organisational entity entrusted to instil Project Management (PM) practices and culture within an organisation and is portrayed as the focal point of PM practices and the locus where an organisation’s knowledge management and PM practices intersect. Companies within a range of economic sectors are accommodating this entity in their organisation structures. Whilst the PMO may not appear to be prevalent in the AEC sector, many of the capabilities ascribed to it do exist either separately or in aggregate within AEC organisations. This paper presents the results of a survey, explored the adoption of the PMO concept within main contractors, project management practices, and developers in the German AEC sector. It discusses the roles that this entity can play in the organisations that are aspiring to achieve a higher level of PM competency and maturity. It also investigates the success factors associated with the successful implementation of the PMO construct and reports on some of the challenges faced in implementing the entity together with potential ways of alleviating these challenges. The research identified that there was a high level of awareness of the PMO concept and that there was a high level prevalence of many of capabilities ascribed to PMOs in the organisations sampled. Many of these organisations recognised that the PMO concept as contributing considerably to knowledge management in their organisation.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Abstract

Details

The Theory and Practice of Directors’ Remuneration
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78560-683-0

Content available
Book part
Publication date: 19 December 2017

Karin Klenke

Abstract

Details

Women in Leadership 2nd Edition
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-064-8

Article
Publication date: 24 May 2022

John M. Violanti, Desta Fekedulegn, Erin McCanlies and Michael E. Andrew

The goal of the present study is to determine the proportionate mortality and national rate of duty-related deaths from COVID-19 among US law enforcement officers during the year…

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of the present study is to determine the proportionate mortality and national rate of duty-related deaths from COVID-19 among US law enforcement officers during the year 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the current study were obtained from the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) database for the year 2020. The database contains deaths designated as caused by incidents that occurred while in the line of duty. The chi-square test and two-sample t-test were used to compare characteristics of officers who died of COVID-19 versus other causes of death. Both the proportionate mortality and rates of death were calculated. To compute the rate of death, the authors obtained data on the total number of law enforcement officers employed in the United States (and therefore at risk) for the year 2020 from Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Findings

COVID-19 deaths (n = 182) accounted for 62% of all duty-related law enforcement officer deaths during 2020. The national rate of death due to COVID-19 (12.8/100,000 per year) for law enforcement officers was higher compared to all other causes of death combined (8.0/100,000 per year).

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the study is the uncertainty of a definitive assessment that the viral infection was acquired through work (versus at home or other non-work-related community settings). Although highly unlikely, deaths designated as duty related entail financial benefits for the survivors and may be a potential source of bias. Given the complexity of personal exposures, the percentage of COVID-19 deaths attributed to duty may represent an over or under estimation of the actual value. Therefore, the data should be interpreted cautiously.

Practical implications

These findings provide police organizations with information needed to understand the risk of death among officers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to make informed decisions about future preparedness strategies.

Originality/value

There are presently no published scientific studies that examine both the proportionate mortality and national rate of death from COVID-19 among law enforcement officers for the year 2020.

Details

Policing: An International Journal, vol. 45 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 November 2019

Mohamed Mousa, Hiba K. Massoud and Rami M. Ayoubi

This paper aims to focus on academics in three private foreign universities located in Cairo (Egypt) to explore the effect of organizational learning on individual-level…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on academics in three private foreign universities located in Cairo (Egypt) to explore the effect of organizational learning on individual-level resistance to change with and without the mediation of authentic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 960 academics were contacted and all of them received a set of questionnaires. After four follow ups, a total of 576 responses were collected with a response rate of 60.00 per cent. The author used the chi-square test to determine the association between organizational learning and authentic leadership. Multiple regressions were used to show how much variation in individual-level resistance to change can be explained by organizational learning and authentic leadership.

Findings

The findings highlight a statistical association between organizational learning and authentic leadership. Moreover, another statistical association is explored between authentic leadership and individual-level resistance to change. Furthermore, the statistical analysis proved that having an authentic leadership in the workplace fosters the effect of organizational learning in alleviating individual’s resistance to change.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected only from academics and did not include rectors and/or heads of academic departments, the matter that may lead to an inflation of statistical relationships. Future research could use a double source method. Moreover, focusing only on private foreign universities working in Egypt diminishes the author’s potential for generalizing his results.

Practical implications

The author recommends establishing a unit for knowledge management inside every university. The function of this unit includes but is not limited to examining prospective socio-political, cultural and economic changes/challenges in the surrounding environment and preparing the possible scenarios for dealing with them. This in turn should comprise involvement and learning opportunities for academics work in these universities. The suggested units should also organize monthly meetings between academics and representatives from different Egyptian sectors such as NGOs personnel, CEOs of private and public companies, environmentalists and politicians to address what change those actors seek universities to undertake to guide academics to fulfill their expectations.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management and organization literature in the higher education sector, in which empirical studies on the relationship between organizational learning, authentic leadership and resistance to change have been limited until now.

Objetivo

Este artículo se centra en los académicos de tres universidades privadas extranjeras situadas en El Cairo (Egipto) para explorar el efecto del aprendizaje organizativo en la resistencia individual al cambio con y sin la mediación del liderazgo auténtico.

Diseño/metodología/aproximación

Se contactó con un total de 960 académicos. Se obtuvieron 576 respuestas válidas para un ratio de respuesta del 60%. Los autores usan el test chi-cuadrado para determinar la asociación entre el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico. Se utilizaron regresiones múltiples para mostrar cuanta variación en la resistencia individual al cambio puede explicarse con el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico.

Resultados

Los resultados muestran una asociación estadística entre el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico. También se explora la relación estadística entre el liderazgo auténtico y el nivel de resistencia individual al cambio. Más aún, el análisis estadístico muestra que un liderazgo auténtico favorece el efecto reductor del aprendizaje organizativo en la resistencia individual al cambio.

Limitaciones/implicaciones

Los datos se obtuvieron exclusivamente de académicos, y no incluían rectores y/o directores de departamento, lo cual puede haber aumentado la significatividad estadística. La investigación futura puede utilizar un método con dos fuentes. Más aún, el foco en universidades extranjeras privadas que trabajan en Egipto puede afectar a la generalizabilidad de los resultados.

Implicaciones prácticas

Los autores recomiendan establecer una unidad de gestión del conocimiento en cada universidad. La función de esta unidad incluye, pero no se limita a, examinar posibles cambios/retos socio-políticos, culturales y económicos en el entorno, y a preparar posibles escenarios para afrontarlos. Esto a su vez debe comprender la identificación de oportunidades de aprendizaje para los académicos en estas instituciones. Estas unidades deberían organizar reuniones mensuales entre los académicos y representantes de diferentes sectores Egipcios tales como personal de ONGs, directores de empresas públicas y privadas, activistas por el medioambiente y políticos para identificar sus necesidades y los cambios necesarios en la universidades para abordarlos.

Originalidad/valor

Este trabajo contribuye a rellenar una ausencia en la literatura sobre organización y gestión de recursos humanos en la educación superior, en la que hasta la fecha no existían estudio sobre la relación entre el aprendizaje organizativo, el liderazgo auténtico y la resistencia al cambio.

Objetivo

Este artigo concentra-se em académicos de três universidades particulares estrangeiras localizadas no Cairo (Egito) para explorar o efeito do aprendizado organizacional na resistência em nível individual à mudança com e sem a mediação da liderança autêntica.

Projeto/metodologia/abordagem

Um total de 960 acadêmicos foram contatados e todos receberam um conjunto de questionários. Após quatro acompanhamentos, um total de 576 respostas foram coletadas com uma taxa de resposta de 60%. O autor usou o teste do qui-quadrado para determinar a associação entre aprendizado organizacional e liderança autêntica. Se usou regressões múltiplas para mostrar quanta variação na resistência individual à mudança pode ser explicada pelo aprendizado organizacional e pela liderança autêntica.

Resultados

Os resultados destacam uma associação estatística entre aprendizado organizacional e liderança autêntica. Outra associação estatística também é explorada entre liderança autêntica e resistência individual à mudança. Além disso, a análise estatística provou que ter uma liderança autêntica no local de trabalho promove o efeito do aprendizado organizacional na diminuição da resistência individual à mudança.

Limitações/implicações da pesquisa

Os dados foram coletados apenas de acadêmicos e não incluíram reitores e/ou chefes de departamentos acadêmicos, o que pode levar a um aumento nas relações estatísticas. Pesquisas futuras poderiam usar um método com fonte dupla. Além disso, o foco apenas em universidades particulares estrangeiras que trabalham no Egito diminui o potencial do autor de generalizar seus resultados.

Implicações práticas

O autor recomenda o estabelecimento de uma unidade para a gestão do conhecimento em todas universidades. A função desta unidade inclui, entre outros, o exame de possíveis mudanças/desafios sócio-políticos, culturais e econômicos no ambiente circundante e a preparação dos cenários possíveis para lidar com eles. Por sua vez, isso deve incluir envolvimento e oportunidades de aprendizado para os acadêmicos trabalharem nessas universidades. As unidades sugeridas também devem organizar reuniões mensais entre acadêmicos e representantes de diferentes setores egípcios, como o pessoal de ONGs, diretores executivos de empresas públicas e privadas, ambientalistas e políticos para as mudanças que esses atores procuram nas universidades para orientar os acadêmicos a atender às suas expectativas.

Originalidade/valor

Este artigo contribui preenchendo uma lacuna na literatura sobre gestão e organização de RH no setor de ensino superior, no qual estudos empíricos sobre a relação entre aprendizagem organizacional, liderança autêntica e resistência à mudança foram limitados até agora.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 24 August 2020

Amanuel Berhe, Solomon Abera Bariagabre and Mulubrhan Balehegn

Different livestock production systems contribute to globally Greenhouse gas emission (GHG) emission differently. The aim of this paper is to understand variation in emission in…

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Abstract

Purpose

Different livestock production systems contribute to globally Greenhouse gas emission (GHG) emission differently. The aim of this paper is to understand variation in emission in different production systems and it is also important for developing mitigation interventions that work for a specific production system.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors used the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment interactive model (GLEAM-i) to estimate the GHG emission and emission intensity and tested the effectiveness of mitigation strategies from 180 farms under three production systems in northern Ethiopia, namely, pastoral, mixed and urban production systems.

Findings

Production systems varied in terms of herd composition, livestock productivity, livestock reproductive parameters and manure management systems, which resulted in difference in total GHG emission. Methane (82.77%) was the largest contributor followed by carbon dioxide (13.40%) and nitrous oxide (3.83%). While both total carbon dioxide and methane were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in urban production system than the other systems emission intensities of cow’s milk and goat and sheep’s meat were lower in urban systems. Improvement in feed, manure management and herd parameters resulted in reduction of total GHG emission by 30, 29 and 21% in pastoral, mixed and urban production systems, respectively.

Originality/value

This study is a first time comparison of the GHG emission production by various production systems in northern Ethiopia. Moreover, it uses the GLEAM-i program for the first time in the ex ante settings for measuring and comparing emissions as well as for developing mitigation scenarios. By doing so, it provides information on the various livestock production system properties that contribute to the increase or decrease in GHG emission and helps in developing guidelines for low emission livestock production systems.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 12 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 January 2022

Angélica Vasconcelos, Alan Sangster and Lúcia Lima Rodrigues

The main aim of this paper is to illustrate the importance of avoiding Whig interpretations in historical research. It does so by highlighting examples of what may occur when this…

Abstract

Purpose

The main aim of this paper is to illustrate the importance of avoiding Whig interpretations in historical research. It does so by highlighting examples of what may occur when this is not done. The paper also aims to promote interdisciplinarity, in the form of working with those from other disciplines, as a means to avoid this occurring.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper includes an in-depth study of the bookkeeping and financial reporting of two 18th century Portuguese state-sponsored companies using archival sources. The companies were selected because of conflicting insights across disciplines concerning the quality of their bookkeeping and financial reporting – historians have been very critical, while accounting historians have seen little wrong. These differences of opinion have never previously been investigated. The authors demonstrate how information was distributed among the account books and other records of the two companies. The approach adopted enabled a reader to fully understand the recorded economic events. The authors also present and explain the procedures, criteria and accounting terminology used in their annual reports.

Findings

This paper demonstrates how easy is to inadvertently adopt a Whig interpretation of accounting history when the focus of interest is something of which the principal researcher has insufficient understanding or expertise. It also illustrates how important it is to embrace interdisciplinarity by working with those from other discipline to avoid doing so.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions from the case study are company-specific and cannot be generalised beyond those companies. However, the implications of this study go beyond the companies in its illustration of the importance of fully understanding historical evidence within its own context.

Originality/value

This paper unveils primary archival sources never previously presented in the literature. It also contributes to the literature by providing an evidence-based justification for the calls previously made to accounting historians to study accounting in its social context and engage with historians from other disciplines.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 35 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 October 2018

Wuletaw Tadesse, Zewdie Bishaw and Solomon Assefa

This paper aims to review the current status of wheat production, farming systems, production constraints and wheat demand-supply chain analysis; the role of international and…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review the current status of wheat production, farming systems, production constraints and wheat demand-supply chain analysis; the role of international and national breeding programs and their approaches in wheat genetic improvement including targeting mega environments, shuttle breeding, doubled haploids, marker-assisted selection and key location phenotyping; and future prospects and opportunities of wheat production in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

Relevant literature works have been used and cited accordingly.

Findings

Though traditionally wheat was not the leading staple crop in SSA, it is becoming an important food crop because of rapid population growth associated with increased urbanization and change in food preference for easy and fast food such as bread, biscuits, pasta, noodles and porridge. In 2013, total wheat consumption in SSA reached 25 million tons with import accounting for 17.5 million tons at a price of USD6 billion, while during the same period the region produces only 7.3 million tons on a total area of 2.9 million hectares. The low productivity (2t/ha) in the region is principally because of abiotic (drought and heat) and biotic (yellow rust, stem rust, septoria and fusarium) stresses which are increasing in intensity and frequency associated with climate change. Furthermore, increased cost of production, growing populations, increased rural-urban migration, low public and private investments, weak extension systems and policies, and low adoption rates of new technologies remain to be major challenges for wheat production in SSA. Wheat breeding in SSA is dominantly carried out by National Agricultural Research Systems, in partnership with the international research centers [International center for improvement of maize and wheat (CIMMYT) and International center for agricultural research in the dry areas (ICARDA)], to develop high yielding and widely adapted wheat genotypes with increased water-use efficiency, heat tolerance and resistance to major diseases and pests. Most of the cultivars grown in SSA are originated from the international research centers, CIMMYT and ICARDA.

Practical implications

This paper will help to promote available wheat technologies in SSA by creating awareness to wheat scientists, extension agents and policymakers.

Originality/value

This manuscript is an original review paper which has not been published in this form elsewhere.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 11 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 February 2019

Stephanie E.V. Brown and Jericka S. Battle

The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between sexual harassment and ostracism both before and after the modern day #MeToo movement. It outlines how the birth of…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between sexual harassment and ostracism both before and after the modern day #MeToo movement. It outlines how the birth of the #MeToo movement lessened the impact of ostracism, empowering victims to report their abusers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of the ostracism literature, and discusses why ostracism has historically prevented individuals from disclosing workplace abuse. It also examines recent and historical cases of sexual harassment where ostracism has both inhibited targets of sexual harassment from reporting and harmed those who stood up for their right not to be harassed.

Findings

Both purposeful and non-purposeful ostracism have negative impacts on employees and organizations as a whole, and the fear of ostracism prevented many from disclosing harassment and abuse in the workplace. The #MeToo movement, by nature, is antithetical to ostracism by building community and freeing people to seek justice. This paper makes practical recommendations for organizations that wish to help prevent ostracism as a response to workplace sexual harassment disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

Both purposeful and non-purposeful ostracism have negative impacts on employees and organizations as a whole, and the fear of ostracism prevent many from disclosing harassment and abuse in the workplace. The #MeToo movement by nature is antithetical to ostracism, building community and freeing people to seek justice. This paper makes practical recommendations for organizations that wish to prevent ostracism as a response to workplace sexual harassment disclosure. Additionally, it provides future research directions to explore the empirical link between the disclosure of sexual harassment and ostracism.

Originality/value

This paper analyzes a crucial barrier to reporting sexual harassment. It both examines the consequences of ostracism and highlights how the threat of ostracism can be overcome through intentional organizational efforts.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

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