Search results

This paper aims to examine the community development approaches of large-scale mining companies, with particular reference to how they may engender community dependency.

The paper begins with a review of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the mining industry, corporate community initiatives and the problem of mining dependency at a national, regional and local levels.

It outlines some of the reasons why less-developed countries (LDCs) experience under-development and detrimental effects as a result of their linkages with industrialized countries. LDCs are not able to take advantage of advanced technology and management skills due to being relatively poor in capital and skills, and foreign technologies compete unfairly with and destroy local production techniques, creating a pool of unemployable “marginalized” people. Holder’s of investments in LDCs demand annual returns for continued support – profits are taken out of the country or guaranteed by tax concessions. Unwillingness of foreign firms to train local people to take over management positions.

This paper explores how the need to address sustainability issues has affected communities, and whether community development initiatives have been effective in contributing to more sustainable communities.

The paper aims to identify causality amongst small and medium enterprises' (SMEs') performance indicators, propose an integrated index of business performance and quality practices and investigate the effect of quality management system (QMS) on business performance.

This study proposes a two-stage approach. In the first stage, the authors gathered responses with a questionnaire on variables affecting business performance and identified dimensions using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Path analysis was carried out to identify causality between the dimensions. In the next stage, the validation of stage 1 findings was carried out to substantiate the proposition that QMS affects performance. Questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews were conducted during the second stage. The analysis was done following the case study protocol – within- and cross-case analysis and validated with supportive and conflicting literature.

The results show that the employee – dimension is crucial to process effectiveness, customer satisfaction and finances. Customer satisfaction results from employee satisfaction and processes. QMS impacts processes and employee performance, thus establishes the causality between business performance factors and QMS. QMS impacts finances in the short run but yields long-term benefits and is dependent on two factors – degree of knowledge of quality practices and its application in business.

This study reveals the performance dimensions of SMEs, their causality and the impact of QMS on performance. It suggests a shift from traditional approaches, correcting defects using statistical quality control approaches, to a sustainable growth path – a long-term approach. This study puts forward two associated indices – the business performance and the knowledge of quality practices and its application index.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the physicians’ attitude toward branded generic drugs in prescribing those drugs in some selective medical conditions and to identify the factors that influence physicians’ behavior toward prescribing branded generic drugs in the said selective medical conditions.

The study was carried out across six major cities in eastern India with 301 physicians. The current study introduced some significant elements into the modified technology acceptance model (TAM) with title the extended tam for product usage (TETPU) to analyze the prescribing factors that influence physicians in five common yet serious medical conditions in India. Out of nine factors considered here, seven were selected from the previous literature studies of different product segments and two were proposed by the authors. Demographic factor was proposed as the confounding variable.

The results indicated that apart from the factors “perceived no need” and “physicians’ perception and need achievement” rest of the factors showed satisfactory to excellent results.

The current study findings may enable the pharmaceutical managers to revise or modify their current marketing communication and other brand-building strategies so as to achieve a superior performance that offers them a competitive advantage.

The paper fulfils a need for advancing the knowledge on the physician’s prescription influencing factors by introducing the newer aspects of the concept and offers a theoretical framework for the academia and practical framework for the managers who desire to implement the strategies to achieve competitive advantage.

The utilization of oilseeds in food formulations is prevalent due to their health benefits and nutritional value. These protein-rich oilseeds serve as an affordable and essential source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, fulfilling human protein requirements. As such, this study sought to investigate the impact of partially replacing wheat flour with oilseeds in different proportions on the nutritional and quality characteristics of biscuits.

Oilseeds, including terebinth, sesame and flaxseed, were partially substituted with wheat flour in amounts of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. The effects of this substitution on the storage stability, nutritional content and physical properties of the resulting biscuits were examined.

The L* (from 69.75 to 54.06) and b* (from 28.59 to 21.60) color values of biscuits decreased with the supplement of oilseeds. The oilseeds addition increased the protein, fat, energy, and ash values of biscuits. At the highest level of added terebinth, sesame and flaxseed, respectively, the amounts measured were 5984.62 mgGAE/kg, 1553.85 mgGAE/kg and 2169.23 mgGAE/kg, which were higher than the control biscuits (715.39 mgGAE/kg). The incorporation of oilseeds resulted in a substantial decrease in pH and peroxide values, while the moisture content was increased throughout the 6-month storage period. The use of terebinth in biscuits led to better oxidative stability than sesame and flaxseed-containing samples. The biscuit samples with terebinth had a longer induction time. The lowest induction time of biscuits with 25% flaxseed was chosen, approximately 3.5 h.

Oilseed flours, which are rich in lipids, have been shown to enhance the quality of biscuits. However, further studies could aim to reduce the amount of shortening used to improve their quality even further. Reducing the shortening could keep the lipid content at an acceptable amount, especially considering consumers' current expectations for low-fat foods.

Plant-based bioactive are generally known as secondary metabolites and have promising therapeutic attributes, especially antioxidative properties.

Thanks to this composition, some of these seeds have proven effective in controlling and preventing metabolic diseases (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease and several types of cancer) as well as providing interesting properties to foods.

As result, oilseeds can be successfully used as functional and sustainable food ingredients to improve the functional, nutritional and storage stability of biscuits.