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1 – 10 of over 36000Terence Y.M. Lam and Junjie Yan
Shanghai is currently faced with a rapid increase in the ageing population and demand for elderly homes. Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) has been emerging as a…
Abstract
Purpose
Shanghai is currently faced with a rapid increase in the ageing population and demand for elderly homes. Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) has been emerging as a high-end alternative to offer specialised accommodation to the elderly in major cities. Since the first development in 2008, the industry is now still at the infancy stage. This study aims to examine the investment barriers hindering the supply and demand of CCRCs with an aim to recommend practical and senior housing policy measures to facilitate CCRC developments.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple-case study method was used to confirm whether the literature findings on investment barriers apply to the context of Shanghai. Four representative CCRC development cases in Shanghai were examined, in which qualitative data were collected from interviews with experienced CCRC development managers and quantitative data from a questionnaire survey of the CCRC residents.
Findings
Operation management experience, financial risks and government support policy were found to be the main supply barriers. Chinese traditional family-oriented culture and affordability were not the main demand barriers of CCRCs in Shanghai. Poor quality of services and living environment were identified as the main barriers suppressing the demand for CCRC.
Research limitations/implications
Although common trends and views can be drawn from the representative cases in Shanghai to provide valid results, further research should be conducted on other major cities in China so that the results can be widely applied.
Practical implications
Successful CCRC investment strategy should focus on partnering with experienced professional eldercare management companies, provisions of high-quality medical professionals and trained care personnel and delivery of flexible care service, along with intensive capital flows for land, construction and operating costs.
Social implications
Additional senior housing policy support should be established to promote the CCRC supply to address the ageing needs, particularly granting lands for CCRC developments at Tiers 1 and 2 major cities where the land cost is high.
Originality/value
This research’s practical and policy measures can be applied to enable and promote CCRC developments in Shanghai, thus benefitting both housing investors and the government. The findings also form a baseline for CCRC developments in other major cities.
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Jacob Hasselbalch, Nives Costa and Alexander Blecken
This paper presents the results of a survey of perceptions on sustainable procurement (SP) in the United Nations (UN). It is the first of its kind to systematically analyse the…
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a survey of perceptions on sustainable procurement (SP) in the United Nations (UN). It is the first of its kind to systematically analyse the issue of SP in the UN system. While the UN has a tremendous opportunity to support their objective of sustainable development through SP practices, significant obstacles still block the full implementation of this goal. The purpose of this study is to investigate the barriers to implementing SP practices in the UN system. Based on an online survey that yielded 282 responses, we identified a framework of SP measures and barriers, and conducted a regression analysis to identify underlying correlations. We find significant correlation between good SP practices and low demand, performance measurement and tool barriers.
Pankaj Singh and Gaurav Agrawal
The purpose of this study is to explore and prioritize the barriers that affect weather index-insurance (WII) adoption among customers by utilizing interpretive structural…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore and prioritize the barriers that affect weather index-insurance (WII) adoption among customers by utilizing interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and fuzzy-MICMAC.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilized the combined approach in two phases. In first phase comprehensive literature study and expert mining method have been performed to identify and validate WII adoption barriers. In second phase, ISM has been utilized to examine the direct relationships among WII adoption barriers in order to develop a structural model. Further, fuzzy-MICMAC method has been utilized to analyse indirect relationships among barriers to explore dependence and driver power.
Findings
This study has identified 15 key barriers of WII adoption among customers and developed a structural model based on binary direct relationship using ISM. Later, the outcomes of ISM model have been utilized for analysing the dependence and driver power of each WII adoption barriers in cluster form using fuzzy-MICMAC. The customer awareness related WII adoption barrier are mainly at the top level, WII demand related barriers are in the centre and WII supply related barriers at the bottom level in ISM model.
Practical implications
The findings offered important insights for WII insurers to understand mutual relationships amongst WII adoption barriers and assists in developing strategy to eliminate dominant key barriers in order to enhance their customer base.
Originality/value
Based on best of author's knowledge this paper firstly integrates the ISM fuzzy-MICMAC method into identification and prioritization of barriers that affects WII adoption among customers.
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Aims to increase our understanding of the role of intangibles in credit risk analysis and of the main factors which enable or disable the impact of intellectual capital (IC…
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to increase our understanding of the role of intangibles in credit risk analysis and of the main factors which enable or disable the impact of intellectual capital (IC) reports.
Design/methodology/approach
Discusses recent findings from the European Union‐funded E*Know‐Net project (2001‐2003) and reviews other works on the subject. This literature review is complemented with two case studies. The first presents the results of an experimental workshop with 12 credit risk analysts from Banco Santander Central Hispano, a major Spanish bank. The second case study looks at how the European Investment Bank integrates intangibles into its project appraisal process.
Findings
Provides a comprehensive conceptual framework to analyze the impact of IC reporting in credit risk analysis. Argues that there is a significant gap between the perceived potential impact of IC reports and their real impact in practice, and proposes a classification of the barriers in the market for corporate information that help explain this apparent paradox. The case studies presented illustrate some of the factors that enable or disable the impact of IC reporting in practice.
Originality/value
Increases understanding of the relevance and impact of intangibles and IC reports in the lending process. Draws conclusions for companies, credit institutions and policy makers.
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The purpose of this paper is to steer the logistics efforts during different phases of cash and voucher and lead aid assistance operation to right destination by analyzing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to steer the logistics efforts during different phases of cash and voucher and lead aid assistance operation to right destination by analyzing logistics data and converting it to feasibility information.
Design/methodology/approach
This research paper depends basically on a quantitative approach by depending on previous references relevant to this topic. Furthermore, interviews with experts in the field consider the dependable references for this research paper.
Findings
There are many findings in this research paper such as a simply logistics algorithm that could help logistics experts to determine the key components in market supply chains and draw different scenarios to clarify the full picture.
Originality/value
This research paper can be considered as reference for advance research papers in future. Furthermore, it stimulates academic researchers to open a serious discussion about logistics data analysis in all phases because it considers as a good source for decision-making information.
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Over the years, efforts to ensure equal participation of girls in school in Nigeria have been met with some setbacks, amidst significant progress in mobilising communities for…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the years, efforts to ensure equal participation of girls in school in Nigeria have been met with some setbacks, amidst significant progress in mobilising communities for gender equality and mainstreaming. The purpose of this paper is to explore a number of features associated with sexual maturation that affect girls’ non-enrolment, limited attendance, performance at school and gender inequality in primary and secondary education in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The analytical engagement with the capability approach draws out elements of inequalities and demonstrates that issues of sexual maturation do not just constitute personal health challenge for adolescent girls, but bring up wider issues of socio-cultural, community and institutional deprivation and injustice.
Findings
Though laudable initiatives have been in place to improve girls’ participation and attainment in education, there is a dire need for appropriate policy and actions to address the supply and demand barriers to meeting girls’ needs, including making schools more girl-friendly and safe, providing school-based health programmes, sex education and sanitation facilities, train teachers against gender-stereotype, flexible school schedules and enforce re-admission policy. But beyond school policy and environment, there is also the need to respond to opportunity costs of schooling and leverage collective capabilities.
Originality/value
This paper argues that cultural and socioeconomic factors surrounding sexual maturation are implicated in gender differentials in participation and performance of girls and gender inequality in education. It suggests the need for the application of collective capabilities for action towards addressing girls’ sexual maturation issues and education in the society.
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Mahmoud Nassar, Husam Aldeen Al‐Khadash and Alan Sangster
This paper seeks to focus on the diffusion of activity‐based costing (ABC) in Jordan. A conceptual framework from general diffusion theory is adopted to describe the diffusion…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to focus on the diffusion of activity‐based costing (ABC) in Jordan. A conceptual framework from general diffusion theory is adopted to describe the diffusion process within the Jordanian industrial sector. The main objective of the study is to determine the motivations for the implementation or non‐implementation of ABC.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with financial managers and heads of costing departments of companies within the Jordanian industrial sector. Both face‐to‐face and telephone interviews were used to achieve the research objective.
Findings
It was found that the rate of implementation of ABC in the Jordanian industrial sector follows the classical S‐shape. It is also suggested that the supply side of the diffusion process, most notably the role played by consultants, was an influence on many companies. This was not, however, a sufficient condition for companies to implement ABC.
Originality/value
Most previous studies focus on the implementation of ABC in Western developed countries. The results of this study make a contribution to existing knowledge in the area of the implementation of ABC, especially in Eastern developing countries such as Jordan. In addition, this research adds further evidence to the value of studying management accounting, and more specifically changes in management accounting practice. It describes the developments undertaken in the implementation of a new system and how a new system becomes accepted in practice.
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Rosalien Alexandra van ’t Foort-Diepeveen, Aikaterini Argyrou and Tineke Lambooy
This paper aims to analyze the barriers discussed in the extant literature as to why women are underrepresented in the corporate top and explains how these barriers interrelate…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the barriers discussed in the extant literature as to why women are underrepresented in the corporate top and explains how these barriers interrelate. An understanding of the interrelatedness of the barriers can help develop suitable and effective measures to improve women’s representation.
Design/methodology/approach
The systematic review method was applied. The search resulted in 51 relevant academic articles from multiple disciplines which were used for the analysis.
Findings
Barriers identified include gender stereotypes, bias in recruitment and promotion, devaluation of women, masculine and long-hours organizational culture, work-family issues and the lack of professional support. The interrelatedness of these barriers is analyzed by means of a conceptual framework.
Research limitations/implications
The adopted method requires the use of search engines and search terms and consequently relevant articles may have been overlooked. The study is geographically demarcated to Europe and, hence is only applicable to developing suitable and effective measures in a European context. More research is needed into which measures are appropriate and effective to overcome the barriers identified.
Practical implications
The insights can be used by companies to foster gender equality and by companies and governments to develop appropriate and effective measures to overcome these barriers.
Originality/value
This review contributes to the literature by uncovering the interrelatedness of the barriers. Understanding the interrelatedness is crucial for developing appropriate measures to overcome the barriers and ultimately to achieve gender equality at the corporate top.
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Christine Farias and Fabian Balardini
Teaching complex economic theories can be made relevant through everyday life experiences and current economic, social, and environmental crises can be used as vehicles for…
Abstract
Purpose
Teaching complex economic theories can be made relevant through everyday life experiences and current economic, social, and environmental crises can be used as vehicles for student learning. The purpose of this paper is to help students understand that the economy should be seen as a social system that evolves over time driven by conflictive and contradictory forces and enable them to develop the critical thinking skills needed to make better choices for a more equitable and sustainable future.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the historical role played by neoliberalism on education in general and on the teaching of economics in particular. A historical/critical/action-learning approach discusses five pedagogical teaching methods that have been implemented in undergraduate economics courses and demonstrates how teaching social economics can be made possible by bringing the real world into the classroom and taking the classroom into the real world.
Findings
There is an urgent need to rethink the teaching of economics and the economics curriculum from one that stresses self-interest, profit maximization and cost minimization, to one that stresses cooperation, collaboration, fairness, and ethical values rather than economic value, as ways of satisfying society’s needs and addressing systemic issues of inequality, power and greed. Bringing teachers and students together in collaborative learning environments, thereby learning from the mistakes of the past and minimizing the impacts of the present so that future generations can also participate, is the much-needed change in how social economics can be taught post-financial crisis.
Originality/value
This paper is a response to the special issue on the theme teaching social economics during the global financial crisis. The authors have provided insights into their teaching pedgagogy in the context of this topic.
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Alkis Thrassou, Ioanna Papasolomou and Marlen Demetriou
Utilising a substantial volume of reliable international literature, information and positions – as well as many, less credible, local ones – the research analyses and interprets…
Abstract
Purpose
Utilising a substantial volume of reliable international literature, information and positions – as well as many, less credible, local ones – the research analyses and interprets theoretical, secondary and primary data that are specific, relevant or peripheral to Cyprus’ emerging oil and gas industry. The purpose of this paper is to predictively and prescriptively define the industry’s strategic implications; both at the public policy level and the business context.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is purely exploratory and is methodologically based on the review, comparison and interrelation of an extensive array of theoretical and secondary data works; which is reinforced and refined through an injection of primary qualitative work in the form of 20 expert and high-level interviews.
Findings
The findings regarding public management underline the need for transparent and synergistic collaboration between all industry actors, as the means to achieve the obvious associated advantages, but also to prevent these forces from becoming opposing, and consequently destabilising ones. Further implications were identified with regards to employment, incentives, education, funding, but also in relation to communications and perceptions. Regarding implications for businesses the research calls for proactivity, identification of opportunities, pursue of the “first movers’ advantage”; as well as a number of specific actions and approaches.
Originality/value
The value of the research lies in its real-time approach to data gathering and analysis; and aids in the design and decision making regarding the industry for policy makers and businesses. The research bears also global/generic importance as it provides a rare insight to the issues and complexities of a country having to first deal with the discovery of hydrocarbons in its economic zone.
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