Ronjini Ray and Jamshed Ahmad Siddiqui
This paper aims to highlight the lacunae in international trade law concerning unilateral economic sanctions that impact food security.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the lacunae in international trade law concerning unilateral economic sanctions that impact food security.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts a literature review to establish that unilateral economic sanctions impact food security and a descriptive assessment of a few such sanctions. Thereafter, it adopts doctrinal analysis of such sanctions under World Trade Organization law and identifies the gaps to address the specific situation of unilateral economic sanctions that impact food security.
Findings
Unilateral economic sanctions are not effectively regulated under international law. Unilateral economic sanctions are known to impact food security not just in the targeted country but also in third countries. Under international trade law, the security exception under Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) does not currently require an assessment of necessity and proportionality of measure. However, there is scope for such an assessment in the future depending on the circumstances, particularly if a measure impacts the rights and interests of third countries by impacting global food security.
Originality/value
The paper conducts a literature review of the impact of unilateral economic sanctions on food security. It highlights the gap in the interpretation of GATT Article XXI when assessing such sanctions that adversely impact the food security of third countries. The paper may be helpful for academics, policymakers, international organizations, non-governmental organisations, etc.
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Suby Khanam, Faisal Talib and Jamshed Siddiqui
The purpose of this study is to identify and rank total quality management (TQM) enablers and information technology (IT) resources to provide a reliable and valid measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify and rank total quality management (TQM) enablers and information technology (IT) resources to provide a reliable and valid measurement instrument for evaluation in Indian information and communications technology (ICT) organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review of TQM enablers and IT resources, 17 factors are identified, of which, 9 are TQM enablers and 8 are IT resources. The empirical data, retrieved from 801 ICT organizations, is tested by descriptive analysis and factor analysis (FA). FA is used to ensure that items in each scale sufficiently reflect the scope of each factor.
Findings
This paper has developed an instrument that can be used to evaluate items to implement TQM enablers and IT resources. The instrument identifies 17 reliable and valid factors, out of which 16 are input factors, while 1 is an outcome factor.
Practical implications
This instrument will provide a practical understanding to enable the monitoring of TQM enabler and IT resource activities in ICT organizations. Along with this, these instruments will help to build models related to constructs that will further achievement of customer satisfaction (CS).
Originality/value
This paper presents an instrument which validates the different items of TQM enablers and IT resources. It also shows the relationship between the two in terms of CS.
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The investigation of fluid flow over a rotating disk has been increasing due to the spread of machine technology. Because of this development, we scrutinized the…
Abstract
Purpose
The investigation of fluid flow over a rotating disk has been increasing due to the spread of machine technology. Because of this development, we scrutinized the Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of hybrid nanofluid caused by a decelerating rotating disk with Ohmic heating, Soret and Dufour effects. The disk's angular velocity is taken to be an inversely time-dependent linear function. Moreover, the temperature-dependent viscosity of hybrid nanofluid is incorporated in the present investigation. Methanol is considered as base fluid, while copper oxide (CuO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) are nanoparticles.
Design/methodology/approach
Estimated fundamental partial differential equations of flow problems are altered as a dimensionless system of ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformation and solved using a numerical technique: BVP Midrich scheme in Maple software. The impression of emerging non-dimensional parameters is portrayed graphically. All outcomes are shown in the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles.
Findings
The developed flow problem involves a non-dimensional parameter (A) that reveals the deceleration of the disk. For larger values of A, the disk decelerates faster and for some fixed time, the fluid surrounding the disk revolves more rapidly than the disk itself. The radial velocity of fluid diminishes and axial velocity becomes uniform when the disk is subjected to wall suction velocity (B).
Originality/value
This analysis is significant in biomedical engineering, cancer therapeutic, manufacturing industries and nano-drug suspension in pharmaceuticals. The novelty of the current study is the hybrid nanofluid flow with Ohmic heating, Soret and Dufour effects on a decelerating rotating disk. To the best of the author's knowledge, no such consideration has been published in the literature.
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Faizan Khan Sherwani, Sanaa Zafar Shaikh, Shilpa Behal and Mohd Shuaib Siddiqui
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of financial inclusion among women-owned informal enterprises in India.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the determinants of financial inclusion among women-owned informal enterprises in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a primary survey of 321 informal enterprises. The data has been collected through a structured questionnaire. A chi-square test has been used to examine the significant association between the characteristics of informal enterprises and their owners and financial inclusion. A logistic regression model has been developed to analyse the determinants of financial inclusion among women-owned informal enterprises.
Findings
A significant and negative association has been found between business duration and entrepreneurs’ experiences with financial inclusion. In addition, the chi-square test shows a significant association between resource capability, use of ICT by enterprises and financial inclusion. Further, logistics regression shows that duration of business, entrepreneurial experience, resource capability in terms of machinery and equipment use, and ICT are significant determinants of financial inclusion among women-owned informal enterprises.
Practical implications
There are several practical implications for national policymakers and other stakeholders, such as banks and international bodies working on financial inclusion. It is suggested that while designing the policy for financial inclusion among woman-owned informal enterprises, it should ensure that experience and older woman entrepreneurs are included in financial inclusion schemes.
Originality/value
There has been very few research on financial inclusion in woman-owned businesses. However, no research has been conducted on the financial inclusion of women-owned informal businesses. This study fills a gap by investigating the factors that influence financial inclusion in women-owned informal businesses.
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This study aims to identify specific human resource management (HRM) practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees. Further, this study aims to rank the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify specific human resource management (HRM) practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees. Further, this study aims to rank the identified HRM practices in the order of their impact on destructive deviance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the technique of both inductive and quantitative content analyses to identify specific HRM practices and rank them in the order of their impact on destructive deviance. Data was collected from 30 executives employed in Indian public sector via unstructured interviews. Also, Krippendorff’s alpha reliability estimate was calculated to establish the reliability of the content analysis, which was 0.80.
Findings
This study identified ten HRM practices (human resource planning, job design, training and development, reward system, employment security, career advancement opportunities, performance management, employee participation, monitoring and control, work–life balance) in overcoming destructive deviance among public sector employees. Furthermore, based on their frequency distribution, the HRM practices were classified into three categories, i.e. most significant, significant and least significant.
Research limitations/implications
Based on the categorization of HRM practices into three categories, this study implies that to discourage employees from exhibiting deviant behaviour, organizations should focus on the implementation of most significant HRM practices followed by significant and least significant practices. HRM practices that function as a coherent and synergistic system act as a win-win strategy benefitting both employees and the organization.
Originality/value
In spite of the rising research interest in the deviant behaviour in the literature, still there is a dearth of research pertaining to the association between HRM practices and destructive deviance. Moreover, there is no consensus among researchers concerning the specific HRM practices that should be incorporated in the overall construct. Guided by these gaps in the literature, this study identifies ten HRM practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees using qualitative analysis.
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Muhammad Hasnain Abbas Naqvi, Zhang Hongyu, Mishal Hasnain Naqvi and Li Kun
This study aims to determine whether or not fashion retail brands can maintain their essence by providing personalized care through conventional face-to-face interactions or the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine whether or not fashion retail brands can maintain their essence by providing personalized care through conventional face-to-face interactions or the use of e-services.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory investigation is being conducted to attain this goal. According to the findings of this research, Chatbots have an impact on consumer loyalty. The quality of a Chatbot’s system, service and information are all critical to providing a positive consumer experience.
Findings
The study concluded that Chatbot e-services might potentially enable dynamic and fascinating interactions between firms and their consumers. To personalize a Chatbot, firms might change the tone of the language used. Customers are more likely to use a Chatbot if it resembles a real person, which increases their pleasure and confidence in the product.
Originality/value
More precisely, the emphasis of the inquiry was on Chatbot, a relatively new digital tool that offers user-friendly, personalized and one-of-a-kind support to customers. Using information supplied by consumers, the authors examine a five-dimensional model that gauges how customers feel about Chatbots in terms of their ability to communicate with users, offer amusement, be trendy, personalize interactions and solve problems.
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U.S. Mahabaleshwar, S.M. Sachin, A.B. Vishalakshi, Gabriella Bognar and Bengt Ake Sunden
The purpose of this paper is to study the two-dimensional micropolar fluid flow with conjugate heat transfer and mass transpiration. The considered nanofluid has graphene…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the two-dimensional micropolar fluid flow with conjugate heat transfer and mass transpiration. The considered nanofluid has graphene nanoparticles.
Design/methodology/approach
Governing nonlinear partial differential equations are converted to nonlinear ordinary differential equations by similarity transformation. Then, to analyze the flow, the authors derive the dual solutions to the flow problem. Biot number and radiation effect are included in the energy equation. The momentum equation was solved by using boundary conditions, and the temperature equation solved by using hypergeometric series solutions. Nusselt numbers and skin friction coefficients are calculated as functions of the Reynolds number. Further, the problem is governed by other parameters, namely, the magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, Prandtl number and mass transpiration. Graphene nanofluids have shown promising thermal conductivity enhancements due to the high thermal conductivity of graphene and have a wide range of applications affecting the thermal boundary layer and serve as coolants and thermal management systems in electronics or as heat transfer fluids in various industrial processes.
Findings
Results show that increasing the magnetic field decreases the momentum and increases thermal radiation. The heat source/sink parameter increases the thermal boundary layer. Increasing the volume fraction decreases the velocity profile and increases the temperature. Increasing the Eringen parameter increases the momentum of the fluid flow. Applications are found in the extrusion of polymer sheets, films and sheets, the manufacturing of plastic wires, the fabrication of fibers and the growth of crystals, among others. Heat sources/sinks are commonly used in electronic devices to transfer the heat generated by high-power semiconductor devices such as power transistors and optoelectronics such as lasers and light-emitting diodes to a fluid medium, thermal radiation on the fluid flow used in spectroscopy to study the properties of materials and also used in thermal imaging to capture and display the infrared radiation emitted by objects.
Originality/value
Micropolar fluid flow across stretching/shrinking surfaces is examined. Biot number and radiation effects are included in the energy equation. An increase in the volume fraction decreases the momentum boundary layer thickness. Nusselt numbers and skin friction coefficients are presented versus Reynolds numbers. A dual solution is obtained for a shrinking surface.
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Reza Sharbaf Tabrizi, Osman M. Karatepe, Hamed Rezapouraghdam, Elisa Rescalvo-Martin and Constanta Enea
The purpose of this study is to test the interrelationships of green human resource management (GHRM), job embeddedness (JEM), green promotive voice behavior and green prohibitive…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to test the interrelationships of green human resource management (GHRM), job embeddedness (JEM), green promotive voice behavior and green prohibitive voice behavior. It assesses JEM as a mediator of the link between GHRM and the aforesaid green voice behavioral consequences.
Design/methodology/approach
Data obtained from the employees of 11 restaurants in Northern Cyprus were used to gauge the said relationships via the partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
GHRM boosts employees’ JEM. Employees high on JEM exhibit green promotive and prohibitive behaviors at elevated levels. JEM is the psychological mechanism relating GHRM to green work outcomes.
Practical implications
Restaurateurs should create an environment that enables employees to speak up and share their opinions on the problems and challenges concerning the environmental sustainability and green initiatives of the restaurant. In addition, they should develop and maintain good relations with employees via GHRM practices. These are important implications that would promote eco-friendly behaviors among employees.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on JEM, green promotive voice behavior and green prohibitive voice behavior as the neglected outcomes of GHRM. That is, there is no empirical evidence reporting that GHRM fosters employees’ JEM. This is also true for JEM as a mediator linking GHRM to the aforementioned dimensions of green voice behavior. With this stated in mind, this study fills in these gaps.
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Geeta Rana and Vikas Arya
This study sought to determine the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in fostering employees' environmental performance (ENVP). This study aims to advance knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
This study sought to determine the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in fostering employees' environmental performance (ENVP). This study aims to advance knowledge related to the role of firms’ GHRM activities in cultivating eco-responsible behaviors among employees, considering green innovation (GI) as a mediator.
Design/methodology/approach
For this study, data of 579 respondents were collected from employees working in the manufacturing industry in India. In all, 579 employees from the manufacturing sector in India participated in the study. The proposed model was tested using SMART PLS 3.3.
Findings
The findings of this study stated that GHRM was found significantly to predict ENVP in the Indian manufacturing industry, and GI exhibited partial mediation. This study emphasizes that GHRM activities carried out by firms encourage employees to engage in innovation to develop green products and find novel green operation processes to improve firms’ ENVP.
Research limitations/implications
As this study is limited to manufacturing organizations in India, the results of this study cannot be generalized; future studies may examine the proposed model in different contexts to generalize findings.
Originality/value
This study encourages policymakers to devise laws to enable organizations to implement GHRM practices. This study contributes to the existing literature on the environmental aspects of corporate social responsibility and environmental management. This study is one of the few attempts that seek to assess the relationship between GHRM, ENVP and GI in the Indian manufacturing industry. The contribution of this paper is significant to limit GHRM literature, as it empirically investigates the association between GHRM and ENVP.