The writer was invited to make an industrial contribution to a Conference held in April on the re‐training of lecturers organised by Kent Education Committee for senior staff from…
Abstract
The writer was invited to make an industrial contribution to a Conference held in April on the re‐training of lecturers organised by Kent Education Committee for senior staff from technical colleges in the County. This article is a transcript of his talk.
Farwa Taqi, Alia Arshad and Syeda Hina Batool
This study aims to evaluate the usability of Google Drive (GD) in addition to measuring the effectiveness of GD and the challenges faced while using this cloud storage application…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the usability of Google Drive (GD) in addition to measuring the effectiveness of GD and the challenges faced while using this cloud storage application among public library users of Lahore.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed method design comprising the quantitative (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) parts. For the QUAN phase, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 384 users of public libraries through purposive sampling. For the QUAL phase, the think aloud technique was performed on several tasks during experiments and verbalized their thoughts and experiences while interacting with the system. The cloud usability model (CUM) was used to measure the “usability” of GD.
Findings
Findings indicated that most users were satisfied with GD's obvious features and inherent functions. QUAL results indicated that respondents did most tasks easily, whereas only some could complete the task.
Research limitations/implications
The study is valuable as it is the first time used CUM to measure the perceived usability of GD. Second, the study used a mixed method study to get insights into perceived usability, effectiveness and challenges while using GD. The findings might be helpful for cloud support teams, including GD, as they can enhance certain features of usability, which lead to increased usage among users.
Originality/value
This research work is based on MPhil thesis.
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Bhoomika N. Jadhav, P. Padma Sri Lekha, E.P. Abdul Azeez, Jyoti Sharma, Archana Yadav and Mufina Begam J.
Gender discrimination exists in various settings globally and harms women’s mental health. This study aims to understand the impact of gender discrimination on hopelessness and…
Abstract
Purpose
Gender discrimination exists in various settings globally and harms women’s mental health. This study aims to understand the impact of gender discrimination on hopelessness and emotional vulnerability. Further, we attempted to determine whether benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) moderate the relationships of gender discrimination with hopelessness and emotional vulnerability.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 445 young women from India was gathered from a cross-sectional survey. Measures included gender discrimination inventory, Beck’s hopelessness inventory, emotional vulnerability scale and BCE scale.
Findings
Results yielded a significant positive association of gender discrimination with hopelessness and emotional vulnerability. BCEs were negatively related to hopelessness, emotional vulnerability and gender discrimination. Further, gender discrimination predicted increased feelings of hopelessness and emotional vulnerability. However, BCEs do not neutralize the effect of gender discrimination.
Social implications
It is evident from this study that gender discrimination exists independent of socioeconomic class, domicile and educational qualification, taking a toll on women’s well-being and mental health. Incorporating attitudinal changes at the community and societal level in reducing gender norms responsible for negative outcomes will allow women to function to their full capacity and experience improved mental health.
Originality/value
The research on gender discrimination and its impact on women’s mental health is limited, especially exploring the role of BCEs. Previous studies have indicated that BCEs have protective roles in neutralizing adversities. However, the present study uniquely contributes to establishing the limited role of BCEs in the context of gender discrimination, though it contributes to mental health. The policy and psychosocial implications of the study are discussed.
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WE have recently published one or two articles in which a contributor with a considerable knowledge of the Chinese economy has described some of that country's industrial…
Abstract
WE have recently published one or two articles in which a contributor with a considerable knowledge of the Chinese economy has described some of that country's industrial activities. The articles have been scrupulously factual and impartial in revealing the ingenuity which has enabled a people desperately short of the technological resources of the industrialised nations to secure for themselves some of life's essentials.
Suvayan Neogi and Pragati Sharma
International trade is a long-standing issue for the development of any country. In the traditional theory of trade exports or trade pattern arises because of supply side…
Abstract
International trade is a long-standing issue for the development of any country. In the traditional theory of trade exports or trade pattern arises because of supply side differences between countries such as technological or factor endowment differences. Such theories predict inter-industry trade but not intra-industry trade (IIT). But in contrary, the simultaneous export and import of products of the same sector was led after the industrialization of developed countries from the 1960s onwards, which was described as “IIT” by [Balassa, B. (1986). Oxford Economic Papers, 38, 220–233]. In this study, India's bilateral IIT with major Asian trading partners was analyzed and the trends in IIT level for horizontal and vertical IIT were observed separately, along with gravity model for the year 2009–2018. This study examined the geographic component in knowledge flows, which could be found at the international level and whether or not an exchange of knowledge is related to foreign trade, particularly IIT. To measure the IIT level for investigating trade patterns between India and member countries of major Asian trading partners, IIT index will be used, known as Grubel-Lloyd index.
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Rajkumari Mittal and Parul Sinha
This paper aims to study the religious tourism supply chain and understand and introduce resilience across the same to mitigate post-pandemic disruptions.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the religious tourism supply chain and understand and introduce resilience across the same to mitigate post-pandemic disruptions.
Design/methodology/approach
In this manuscript, a systematic literature review has been done to identify the gaps in the religious tourism supply chain, which gives adequate revenue to India but not studied yet. The identified gap shaped this study's objectives and research questions and guided the authors to devise a theoretical framework for the religious tourism supply chain.
Findings
The key findings of this research paper led to identifying both threats and opportunities for the religious tourism supply chain, which has been into existence and caused many disasters in the past. As pandemic Covid-19 shut the doors of these religious destinations for extended periods, it became necessary for governments, state authorities and private parties to think and devise the post unlock operating processes for this supply chain. This thinking directed the authors to create a framework for the smooth flow of people and other services across this supply chain. The collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders at various levels can realize the actual working of the suggested framework. A stagewise set of processes has been proposed to understand the resilience across the religious tourism supply chain and reduce disruptions.
Practical implications
Covid-19 pandemic has devastated the world economies and disrupted the supply chains of all sectors. The paper elaborates the need for cohesive efforts to introduce resilience across humanitarian supply chains and phase-wise processes to reduce the disruptions caused by various disasters. These systematic efforts will familiarize the readers with the need for resilience across the religious tourism supply chain. Still, it would also assist in generating revenue for the Indian government and reviving the economy soon.
Originality/value
The trade of religious tourism adds a significant contribution to the Indian economy in terms of revenue, employment, visibility of culture and destination, etc. The Covid-19 pandemic has immensely disrupted the tourism sector supply chain, resulting in huge losses (FICCI report 2020). The introduction and implementation of resilience across the religious tourism supply chain can diminish the losses and assist in reviving the economy soon. Construct of resilience across the religious tourism supply chain has not been studied yet. This manuscript contributes to identifying post-pandemic challenges across the religious tourism supply chain and ways to integrate resilience to reduce disruptions caused by disasters.
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Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way…
Abstract
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way of using the law in specific circumstances, and shows the variations therein. Sums up that arbitration is much the better way to gok as it avoids delays and expenses, plus the vexation/frustration of normal litigation. Concludes that the US and Greek constitutions and common law tradition in England appear to allow involved parties to choose their own judge, who can thus be an arbitrator. Discusses e‐commerce and speculates on this for the future.
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Ankita Bedi and Balwinder Singh
The current longitudinal study explores the determinants of carbon management strategy in an emerging economy.
Abstract
Purpose
The current longitudinal study explores the determinants of carbon management strategy in an emerging economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on BSE 500 Indian firms for 7 years i.e. from 2016–17 to 2022–23. The appropriate panel regression models have been used to untangle the determinants of carbon management strategy.
Findings
The empirical findings of the study document that gender diversity, environment committee, Environment Management System (EMS) and climate change risks and opportunities play a significant and positive role in the adoption of carbon management strategy. Contrary, board size exerts a significant and negative influence on carbon management strategy adoption.
Practical implications
The study enriches the emerging climate change and carbon management strategy literature.
Social implications
The study provides treasured acumens to regulators, policymakers and managers as the study highlights the role of various determinants in carbon management strategy adoption.
Originality/value
The current research provides novel insights into carbon management strategy literature by unraveling the determinants of carbon management strategy adoption. Further, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first to explore the determinants of carbon management strategy adoption in a developing country context.
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Cynthia Leung, Sandra Tsang, Suzanne Dean and Paully Chow
Socially disadvantaged parents often concentrate on providing for their children instead of stimulating them to learn because of their own low self‐efficacy as learning agents…
Abstract
Socially disadvantaged parents often concentrate on providing for their children instead of stimulating them to learn because of their own low self‐efficacy as learning agents. This study describes the development and pilot evaluation of a programme designed to empower new immigrant parents in Hong Kong to assume active, systematic and confident roles to teach their pre‐school children learning skills. A needs assessment was conducted to guide the development of the programme, which was also informed by research evidence and community engagement. A pilot trial was conducted and qualitative data were obtained from the participating parents. Parents reported improvements in their children's motivation to learn and the parent‐child relationship. The research provided information on programme design, delivery and implementation strategies. It suggested important entry points to engage and empower parents to provide timely stimulation to their young children.
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Kiefe Heibormi Passah and Nagari Mohan Panda
The paper presents a structural model to explain the relationship between various gender-role orientations (GROs) and motivational antecedents leading to entrepreneurial intention…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper presents a structural model to explain the relationship between various gender-role orientations (GROs) and motivational antecedents leading to entrepreneurial intention (EI). It examines the influence of GRO in the formation of EI among educated youths of Northeast India.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a structural equation modelling approach, the hypothesized model is tested on a sample of 642 post-graduate students from four different universities in Northeast India, a developing region with unique socio-cultural diversity. The mediating role of EI antecedents on the relationship between GRO and EI was examined after establishing the reliability and validity of the measurement model.
Findings
Results from the analysis support the hypothesized structural relationship confirming the influence of GRO on EI. The study also finds that androgynous individuals have a higher EI than their masculine or feminine counterparts.
Research limitations/implications
The study contributes to the understanding of EI determinants from a GRO perspective, especially in the industrially backward region of an emerging economy. It adds to the existing literature by empirically proving the role of gender orientation. The results have several policy implications for educational institutions and policymakers in emerging economies.
Originality/value
The paper re-examines the predictive value of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model from a GRO perspective and compares indirect effects of gender identity through motivational antecedents on EI. Whilst TPB predicted EI in Western and developed countries, using a more diverse sample provides strong empirical evidence in the context of a developing region.