The concept of honor, a tension and balance between a focus on the internal and the external for validation of one’s sense of worth and standing in a social group, captures the…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of honor, a tension and balance between a focus on the internal and the external for validation of one’s sense of worth and standing in a social group, captures the attention of scholars because it offers a way of understanding the motivations of proud and often violent people belonging to these cultures. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how this focus has led to conceptual and empirical path dependence in the study of honor that has dramatically limited our understanding of this important phenomenon in workplaces and other social interaction contexts, and to suggest a number of alternative paths forward.
Design/methodology/approach
The author draws on extant work on honor and related concepts independent of violence, aggression or conflict, to posit that honor be conceptualized more broadly – and less negatively – as a culturally influenced system of behavioral guidelines to determine what is acceptable and moral in a given context. This conceptual paper presents a novel, understudied approach to honor research in international and cross-cultural studies.
Findings
The study discusses critical implications of this useful rebalancing for theory, measurement and practice going forward.
Originality/value
By reconceptualizing and rebalancing the historical path-dependent trajectory of honor research, this analysis adds relevant nuance to our understanding of an influential cultural difference and helps explore new implications of honor for research and practice.
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Duy Nguyen Luc Ha and Anh Tu Nguyen
Focusing on the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, this research reveals that AI can create and improve English language assessments for learners in order to…
Abstract
Purpose
Focusing on the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, this research reveals that AI can create and improve English language assessments for learners in order to optimize and enhance test questions as a bilateral tool in the traditional way for English Language Teaching (ELT) is possible.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopted a qualitative methodology by conducting semi-structured interviews with a varied range of language institutes’ lecturers, revealing new beneficial effects of AI on test time, content and human variables.
Findings
Several interviewees agreed that AI should be used in ELT exam creations because of its overt advantages in making test items automatically, adaptive testing, enhanced feedback mechanisms and quality assurance and innovative formats. Simultaneously, some disadvantages are recorded, including complexity and nuance of language, technical limitations, ethical and bias concerns and human oversight and validation.
Research limitations/implications
The study was also limited by the time frame of the research, which may not have fully captured the complex dynamics between the different actors, such as using AI in preparing questions for reading tasks such as automatic creation of pre-reading questions as well as possible answers.
Originality/value
For future studies, as AI-generated material is becoming more ubiquitous, from music to artwork, it presents crucial legal problems regarding who owns the rights to the work or construct ELT exams. It has also become the next problem that the writers should concentrate on.
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Dong-Sing He and Tse-Sheng Wang
This study aims to evaluate the service and crime prevention performance of law enforcement agencies in Taiwan’s municipalities. By analyzing these performances, the study seeks…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the service and crime prevention performance of law enforcement agencies in Taiwan’s municipalities. By analyzing these performances, the study seeks to improve the efficiency of police services through appropriate resource allocation, ultimately achieving enhanced crime prevention.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilized a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) to construct performance metrics. In the first stage, the service performance of the police force was measured using the number of police officers and police stations as inputs and the number of patrols and temporary patrol boxes as outputs. In the second stage, crime prevention performance was assessed with the number of patrols and temporary patrol boxes as inputs and cases of violence, injury, intimidation and theft as outputs. Additionally, a truncated regression model was employed to analyze the impact of environmental variables such as per capita income, population density, proportion of the population with higher education and the unemployment rate on crime prevention performance.
Findings
The study found significant variations in both service and crime prevention performance across different municipalities. By identifying the most efficient and inefficient units, the analysis revealed critical insights into resource utilization and areas needing improvement. The regression analysis indicated that environmental factors such as higher per capita income, population density, education level and unemployment rate significantly affect crime prevention performance.
Originality/value
This research provides a novel approach to assessing police service efficiency and crime prevention effectiveness using a two-stage DEA model. By incorporating environmental variables through truncated regression, the study offers a comprehensive evaluation framework that can inform policy decisions and resource allocation strategies. This methodology not only highlights the performance metrics of law enforcement agencies but also underscores the influence of socioeconomic factors on crime prevention, contributing to the broader literature on public safety and resource management.
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Tshepo Arnold Chauke and Mpho Ngoepe
The purpose of the study is to explore the integration of facets of information technology (IT) governance at a professional council in South Africa with the view to develop a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to explore the integration of facets of information technology (IT) governance at a professional council in South Africa with the view to develop a framework.
Design/methodology/approach
This critical emancipatory study used the Information Governance Initiative pinwheel to explore the architecture facet of information governance at the professional council, with a view to developing a framework for entrenching a culture of good corporate governance. Qualitative data was collected through interviews and document analysis. The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between the researcher and study participants in defining and solving the problem through a needs assessment exercise.
Findings
The key findings report on the processes taken by a professional council in identifying and implementing the facets of information governance, that is, records management, IT, content management, data governance, information security, data privacy, risk management, regulatory compliance, long-term digital preservation and, even, business intelligence.
Research limitations/implications
The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between the researcher and study participants in defining and solving the problem through a needs assessment exercise.
Practical implications
The study’s findings suggest that, with the right information governance policy in place, adopting the facets of information governance can be used to address concerns related to information integrity in the short and medium terms. As a long-term option for retaining data and information, it would have various drawbacks and would not, however, ensure the initial dependability of the information.
Originality/value
A framework for information governance to ensure that the professional organisation and board members adopt a tailored governance system is suggested.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of international students’ education in our V.U.C.A (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) world. It has…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of international students’ education in our V.U.C.A (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) world. It has challenged higher education institutions to deliver quality and equitable education aligned with Sustainable Development Goal no. 4. However, studies indicate that this pandemic has significantly impacted international students in terms of both policy implementation and academic experiences in online learning. Therefore, this study aims to explore the lessons learned from the online learning experience of international students studying in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed an online survey to explore international students’ experiences with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Microsoft Forms, it collected 125 responses from international students studying at Project 211 universities. The survey included responses from 67 male and 58 female international students. Among these, 80 students studied online from locations outside China, while 45 participated in online learning from within China.
Findings
The study revealed that international students in China faced significant challenges during online learning, including academic disruptions, technological barriers, financial strain and psychological stress, exacerbated by time zone differences and isolation. Despite these obstacles, students demonstrated learning resilience by employing strategies such as self-regulation, peer collaboration and skill development in technology use.
Originality/value
This study addresses the existing gap in proper support for international students, particularly during times of crisis. It highlights lessons learned from the pandemic and presents mitigation strategies based on the participants’ perspectives. These strategies aim to address the learning poverty identified by the World Bank.
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Jitender Kumar, Archit Vinod Tapar and Somraj Bhattacharjee
The study aims to present a systematic literature review (SLR) to understand the current status of research on social media usage among the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). The…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to present a systematic literature review (SLR) to understand the current status of research on social media usage among the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). The purpose of this study is to identify the research gaps in this domain and review future research agendas by using theory, context, characteristics and methods [TCCM] framework.
Design/methodology/approach
An SLR, keywords co-occurrence and TCCM analysis were used to analyse and synthesize insights from 44 studies gained from Web of Science and Scopus databases.
Findings
The findings suggest that the USA and India are popular contexts for studying BOP. The BOP population uses social media to gain utilitarian, hedonic and social values. Further, social media can help BOP explore “entrepreneurship” opportunities, value co-creation and bring innovations.
Originality/value
This study expands the intellectual boundaries of social media at BOP and suggests multidisciplinary research. Additionally, adopting novel theoretical lenses helped determine social media's impact on BOP.
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Abroon Qazi and M.K.S. Al-Mhdawi
This study aims to explore the interrelationships among quality and safety metrics within the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). Its primary objective is to identify key…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the interrelationships among quality and safety metrics within the Global Food Security Index (GFSI). Its primary objective is to identify key indicators and their respective influences on food security outcomes, thereby enriching comprehension of the intricate dynamics within global food security.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis encompasses data from 113 countries for the year 2022, utilizing Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) models to identify significant drivers of both the GFSI and quality and safety dimensions. This methodological approach enables the examination of probabilistic connections among different indicators, providing a structured framework for investigating the complex dynamics of food security.
Findings
The study highlights the critical role of regulatory frameworks, access to clean drinking water, and food safety mechanisms in fostering food security. Key findings reveal that “nutrition monitoring and surveillance” has the highest probability (75%) of achieving a high-performance state, whereas “national dietary guidelines” have the highest probability (41%) of achieving a low-performance state. High GFSI performance is associated with excelling in indicators such as “access to drinking water” and “food safety mechanisms”, while low performance is linked to underperformance in “national dietary guidelines” and “nutrition labeling”. “Protein quality” and “dietary diversity” are identified as the most critical indicators affecting both the GFSI and quality and safety dimensions.
Originality/value
This research operationalizes a probabilistic technique to analyze the interdependencies among quality and safety indicators within the GFSI. By uncovering the probabilistic connections between these indicators, the study enhances understanding of the underlying dynamics that influence food security outcomes. The findings highlight the critical roles of regulatory frameworks, access to clean drinking water, and food safety mechanisms, offering actionable insights that empower policymakers to make evidence-based decisions and allocate resources effectively. Ultimately, this research significantly contributes to the advancement of food security interventions and the achievement of sustainable development goals related to food quality and safety.
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Cansev Ozdemir, Gizem Sultan Kaman and Hakan Yilmaz
The purpose of the study is to evaluate mobile apps developed to prevent food waste from the perspective of responsible production and consumption.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to evaluate mobile apps developed to prevent food waste from the perspective of responsible production and consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs qualitative methods, and the dataset consists of the 1,382 content and online reviews and comments for 11 mobile apps in addition to 30 in-depth interviews conducted with consumers and restaurant managers/owners using the apps.
Findings
Mobile apps are proving to be popular with people, inviting users to fight food waste in a sustainable and responsible way. While users' main motivations for becoming food waste fighters are responsibility, positive emotions and economic sensitivity, restaurants' motivations are different, such as social responsibility, innovative business models, attracting new customers and cost orientation.
Practical implications
Creating digital value and contributing significantly to sustainability in the food industry, mobile apps offer different opportunities to the market. By supporting and encouraging the use of these apps, businesses can reduce food waste, prevent financial losses and offer consumers more choice and variety.
Originality/value
The present study aims to address this lack of empirical research based on a holistic perspective by providing a multidimensional assessment. Such an approach should contribute to a thorough understanding of the motivations that drive users and restaurants to become food waste fighters.