Yunus Emre Topcu, İbrahim Enes Can and Atilla Özçınar
This study aims to determine the order of importance of blockchain technology gains for foreign trade management. The second aim of the research is to select the most suitable…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the order of importance of blockchain technology gains for foreign trade management. The second aim of the research is to select the most suitable blockchain type for the foreign trade process.
Design/methodology/approach
The data required for the research analysis were collected through comparison matrices scored by foreign trade experts. The data were analyzed with the analytical hierarchy process method, and the gains of blockchain technology for the foreign trade process were prioritized. Finally, the most suitable type of blockchain technology was selected with the PROMETHEE method.
Findings
As a result of the study, subject matter experts perceived that the most critical blockchain gain for the foreign trade process would be cost savings. In addition, it has been observed that the general trade process differs compared to the logistics and payment processes. Finally, open blockchain was the most suitable blockchain type for foreign trade processes.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, the positive gains of blockchain technology are considered. In future studies, it is recommended to consider the existing negative factors to be able to use blockchain technology in foreign trade processes. In addition, it is suggested to conduct a study by dividing foreign trade into two, import and export.
Practical implications
All stakeholders who want to integrate blockchain technology into their foreign trade processes, including foreign trade companies, software developers, policymakers and international institutions, can benefit from the results of this study. A blockchain technology software created for foreign trade management can be shaped according to the results of this study.
Originality/value
Although the gains that blockchain technology provides to foreign trade processes are frequently emphasized in the literature, which gain would be greater has not been examined. The lack of an answer to the issue of how blockchain technology should be designed for foreign trade processes has been the missing part of the relevant literature. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first experimental study in the literature that prioritizes blockchain gains and selects the appropriate blockchain type for foreign trade processes.
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AgriBusiness entrepreneurship
Abstract
Subject area
AgriBusiness entrepreneurship
Study level/applicability
Post-graduate and executive education classes in agribusiness: MBA, Executive Education programmes for senior managers; entrepreneurial studies and workshops for SMEs.
Case overview
This case study is centred on Ibrahim, a businessman in Tanzania, who decided to start a business to process and sell cassava starch flour. Following a market survey, he realized that the demand for cassava starch surpassed the supply and planned to bridge this gap. To realize his business idea, he applied for and received a loan from an investment bank (Tanzania Investment bank), with which he bought processing machines and some acres of land for the cultivation of the crop. Unfortunately, he encountered a major setback because the sub-standard processing machine he bought stopped working after one week. He could neither repair his equipment nor buy new ones because the bank refused to extend his loan facility. Ibrahim was also having problems meeting a huge international and local demand for his cassava because of inadequate supply of cassava by local farmers.
Expected learning outcomes
This paper aims to understand the entire cassava value chain, which is made up of three major players: growers, processors and end-users; to understand the business case for opting to focus on one of the three areas, what arguments could be given for being a grower, a processor or an end-user; to understand that there are different types of end-user products: cassava starch flour, high-quality cassava flour, both of which can come from an intermediate product called “grates”; to understand the reason for the paradox, that there is (potentially) a high demand for cassava flour locally, and yet these end-users are not yet willing to patronize the local market because supply is low, and supply is low, not because farmers cannot produce more, but simply because they are not processing more – why is this?; to understand that the “processing” stage seem to be the rate-limiting-stage in the cassava starch production value chain – how can this process be improved?; to understand the case for aggregating local farmers into cooperatives to produce enough cassava roots to feed the need of industrial processors, and aggregators can also collect and pre-process into “grates” before selling to industrial processing companies; and to understand the importance of locating processing plants close to the farms.
Supplementary materials
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Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
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Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Chung Peow Chua
The unconventional concept of leasing temporary retail space has taken the retailing world by storm in the past decade. In addition to permanent retail space (in‐line stores)…
Abstract
Purpose
The unconventional concept of leasing temporary retail space has taken the retailing world by storm in the past decade. In addition to permanent retail space (in‐line stores), many shopping centre management staff have leased temporary retail space as a form of maximizing the net lettable area of the shopping malls, thus hoping to reap better returns for the real estate investors. Using Singapore as the study area, this paper aims to investigate shoppers' perceptions of in‐line stores (permanent retail space) and comparing them to their perceptions of retail carts (temporary retail space) in shopping centres.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine shoppers' perceptions of in‐line stores and retail carts, the paper adopts a mixed method sequential design by way of qualitative/quantitative sequence.
Findings
In terms of image structures, in‐line stores and retail carts share three common image dimensions, namely, “atmosphere”, “variety of product” and “service quality”. In‐line stores recorded an additional factor, “value”. However, the shoppers displayed better perception ratings towards all retail space attributes and factors of in‐line stores relative to that of the retail carts. In addition, the data also revealed that age of the shoppers has a direct influence on shoppers' perceptions of retail carts and in‐line stores.
Originality/value
The findings not only add to the current retail literature, but will also aid retail industry players in improving their marketing and overall tenant‐mix structures for more successful leasing strategies. This will maximize the usage of retail real estate space that may in turn result in higher returns for real estate investors.
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The desire to improve efficiency has led both academics and practitioners to embrace various technologies to aid managers to discharge their functions. Recently, there has been a…
Abstract
Purpose
The desire to improve efficiency has led both academics and practitioners to embrace various technologies to aid managers to discharge their functions. Recently, there has been a growing interest amongst construction researchers on the use of computer vision and image‐processing techniques to automatically capture work in progress. Reported findings are promising; however, those previous studies fall short of providing a reporting mechanism to aid decision making. The purpose of this paper is to develop a reporting model based on progress captured using computer vision.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper first presents trends in research relating to use of computer vision in the monitoring of work in progress. It then employs the unified modelling language to present the conceptual development of the model. The computerised reporting model is developed using the visual basic programming language.
Findings
The key elements of the model are computations of cost‐schedule variances, payments and cash flows. Results of a test on a hypothetical case show that the model accurately computes the metrics.
Originality/value
The reporting model serves to provide managers with a quick and easy means of interpreting work progress captured using computer vision. It reinforces the value of already existing work on the application of computer vision techniques to the measurement of work in progress on construction sites.
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Mansor H. Ibrahim and Muzafar Shah Habibullah
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influences of real share prices on aggregate consumption for Malaysia with the focus on whether there is asymmetry in the long‐run…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influences of real share prices on aggregate consumption for Malaysia with the focus on whether there is asymmetry in the long‐run relation of the two variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper specifies aggregate consumption to depend on real income and real share prices. Alternatively, imposing long‐run budget constraint, the paper specifies the relation between aggregate consumption and real share prices as ratio to real income. Then, it applies an asymmetric cointegration and error correction modeling.
Findings
The cointegration tests indicate the presence of a long‐run relation between consumption‐income ratio and share price‐income ratio. More interestingly, while changes in share prices exert short‐run causal influences on Malaysia's private consumption, evidence is found for the adjustments of consumption – income ratio to the long‐run equilibrium path only when it is above its long‐run value. The paper interprets the finding as suggesting downward revisions in the consumption patterns when there are adverse shocks in share prices and, accordingly, supports the existence of especially negative wealth effect for Malaysia.
Research limitations/implications
Owing to data limitations, the paper relies on aggregate consumption and aggregate income data. It acknowledges that the sum of non‐durable consumption and flow‐of‐services from durable purchases and labor income are more appropriate measures of, respectively, consumption and real income.
Originality/value
The findings have important implications for understanding consumption behavior in a developing country and can provide insight on the effectiveness of monetary policy.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide graduate students, researchers, governmental and independent agencies with an overview of technological disasters.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide graduate students, researchers, governmental and independent agencies with an overview of technological disasters.
Design/methodology/approach
Technological disasters are subjects of concern to researchers, academicians, governmental and independent agencies. Disasters are classified into natural and man‐made disasters. For an incident to be classified as a disaster, the disaster criteria should be met. Several disaster criteria have been proposed defining the disasters in terms of casualties, economic loss and environmental impact. The disasters which involve major hazard installations (MHIs) are known as technological disasters. The technological disaster definition, stages, types, criteria, factors, models have been reviewed. This paper presents an overview of technological disaster definition, criteria, stages, models, factors, and prevention.
Findings
Although the technological disasters may occur at non‐MHIs, it has been noted that most of the technological disasters involved MHIs and that their impact is not limited to the plants but can extend to neighboring surroundings. The technological disaster consists of three stages: before, during, and after disaster. There are many factors contributing to the technological disasters, some of which are observed clearly while others are partially hidden. The main technological disaster factors were identified as human, organizational and technological errors. Few models have been drawn describing the sequence of development of the technological disaster.
Originality/value
This paper presents an overview on the technological disaster definition, criteria, types, stages, models, factors, and prevention and combines the scattered information on technological disaster into one record.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to provide graduate students, researchers, governmental and independent agencies with an overview on the stages and management of technological disasters.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide graduate students, researchers, governmental and independent agencies with an overview on the stages and management of technological disasters.
Design/methodology/approach
The technological disasters are a subject of concern to the researchers, the academicians, the governmental and independent agencies. The disasters, which involve major hazard installations (MHIs), are known as technological disasters. The information has been collected from several sources such as the technical, and general articles, internet web sites, and internal reports. The technological disaster definition and stages have been reviewed. This paper presents an overview on the technological disaster management cycle.
Findings
Technological disasters consist of three stages. The stages are classified into pre‐, during and post‐disaster stages. Disaster management is a collective term encompassing all aspects of planning for and responding to disasters, including both pre‐disaster and post‐disaster activities. Disaster management cycle is an open‐ended process. The four phases comprising the cycle begin and end with mitigation. The stages are not mutually exclusive – there is an overlap. The stages of disaster management can be operative concurrently, because those stages are interrelated; they are not independent entities with one stopping and the next following.
Originality/value
This paper presents an overview on the technological disaster definition and stages. It provides the MHIs management and the related authority with a background on the technological disaster management cycle. It motivates the members of the MHIs, particularly managerial staff, and the emergency planners to continually improve the control of MHIs. It provides the background and basis for further research in disaster and disaster management.
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Konjit Hailu Gudeta, Atsede Tesfaye Hailemariam and Bantie Workie Gessese
Abstract
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Mansor H. Ibrahim and Fadzlan Sufian
The purpose of this paper is evaluate the interrelations between Islamic financing and key economic and financial variables including real output, price level, interest rate and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is evaluate the interrelations between Islamic financing and key economic and financial variables including real output, price level, interest rate and stock prices for the case of Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper makes use of a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) model to discern the influences of key economic and financial variables on the behavior of Islamic financing.
Findings
The basic results indicate that Islamic financing responds positively to innovations in real output. In addition, the price level shocks also tend to have significant but lagged effects on the financing provision of Islamic banks. Most interestingly, Islamic financing is impacted negatively and immediately by positive interest rate shocks, contradicting the argument that Islamic bank operations are shielded from interest rate fluctuations. Indeed, the excess sensitivity of Islamic banks to interest rate fluctuations and their lagged responses to price level shocks are found to be robust across alternative SVAR specifications.
Practical implications
Operating under a dual banking system, Islamic banks are not immune from monetary conditions of the country. Indeed, it seems to be exposed to the interest rate risk, an aspect that needs to be accounted for by Islamic banks in their risk management.
Originality/value
With the emergence of Islamic finance industry, understanding the implications of various macroeconomic factors on Islamic financing is essential. This study adds to this understanding, which has received limited attention.