Magnus Johansson, Lars Nyberg, Mariele Evers and Max Hansson
The aim of this paper is to present a concept where social learning is used in education. Thematically, the concept is suitable for complex, interdisciplinary, societal challenges…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to present a concept where social learning is used in education. Thematically, the concept is suitable for complex, interdisciplinary, societal challenges with a high degree of uncertainty regarding future changes. It is exemplified here by the need to link disaster risk reduction (DRR) with climate change adaptation (CCA) and flood risk management (FRM). The concept answers to the variety of adopted solutions and build-up of knowledge that exist, as a consequence of far-reaching local liabilities and initiatives. The concept advocates building of platforms and procedures where managers, stakeholders, researchers, policy makers, and regular students can meet, interact and learn from local examples.
Design/methodology/approach
The concept IntECR (integrated education, research and collaboration) has been tested in two courses during 2009 and 2010 around the Swedish lakes Vänern and Mälaren. Seminars and field visits were arranged in ten different cities. Participants replied anonymously to a course evaluation and were questioned in groups about their perceived benefit from the concept.
Findings
Informal networking, holistic perspective, shared problem identification and the positive possibility to study several examples of local management in arrangements with high degree of structural openness, were mentioned by the participants as positive outcome of the concept.
Originality/value
The use of this educational concept aims to increase the adaptive capacity of societal entities through raised capacity of their individual members. The applied example is timely, relevant and a contribution to DRR and CCA.
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Max Neill, Julie Allen, Neil Woodhead, Helen Sanderson, Stephen Reid and Lori Erwin
This article discusses the question of risk in the lives of people who are supported by human services. It responds to the way in which risk, as it has traditionally been…
Abstract
This article discusses the question of risk in the lives of people who are supported by human services. It responds to the way in which risk, as it has traditionally been approached by these services, imposes a barrier to social inclusion and to an interesting and productive life. The article proposes an alternative person‐centred risk process. We argue that, by beginning with a focus on who the person is, their gifts and skills, and offering a positive vision of success, it could be possible to avoid the implied aversion to any form of risk embedded in the traditional approaches and attitudes.
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Xiaohui Dou, Yadong Li, Xinwei Zhang, Shengnan Wang, Yang Cheng, Wanpeng Yao, Dalei Zhang and Yan Li
The purpose of this study is to characterize the galvanic corrosion behavior of a simulated X80 pipeline steel welded joint (PSWJ) reconstructed by the wire beam electrode (WBE…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to characterize the galvanic corrosion behavior of a simulated X80 pipeline steel welded joint (PSWJ) reconstructed by the wire beam electrode (WBE) and numerical simulation methods.
Design/methodology/approach
The galvanic corrosion of an X80 PSWJ was studied using WBE and numerical simulation methods. The microstructures of the coarse-grained heat affected zone, fine-grained heat affected zone and intercritical heat affected zone were simulated in X80 pipeline steel via Gleeble thermomechanical simulation processing.
Findings
Comparing the corrosion current density of coupled and isolated weld metal (WM), base metal (BM) and heat-affected zone (HAZ), the coupled WM exhibited a higher corrosion current density than isolated WM; the coupled BM and HAZ exhibited lower corrosion current densities than isolated BM and HAZ. The results exhibited that the maximum anodic galvanic current fitted the Gumbel distribution. Moreover, the numerical simulation results agreed well with the experimental data.
Originality/value
This study provides insight into corrosion evaluation of heterogeneous welded joints by a combination of experiment and simulation. The method of reconstruction of the welded joint has been proven to be a feasible approach for studying the corrosion behavior of the X80 PSWJ with high spatial resolution.
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Ksenia Keplinger and Andria Smith
Gender balance has been a declared goal in business and society for decades as gender diversity leads to more equality and better decision-making, enhances financial performance…
Abstract
Gender balance has been a declared goal in business and society for decades as gender diversity leads to more equality and better decision-making, enhances financial performance of organizations, and fosters creativity and innovation. Although there is a steady upward trend in the number of women actively participating in the workplace, there is still a dearth of women in top leadership positions. This motivates a closer look at the reasons why this happens. Stigmatization – a social process of disapproval based on stereotypes or particular distinguishing characteristics of individuals (e.g. gender) – has been recognized as one of the primary explanations for the barriers to career advancement of women. This chapter aims to address workplace inequality by analysing different sources of stigma women face in the workplace. Previous research has mostly focused on visible sources of stigma, such as gender or race/ethnicity. We propose to go beyond visible sources of stigma and expand the focus to other physical (e.g. physical appearance, age, childbearing age), emotional (e.g. mental health) and societal (e.g. flexibility) sources of stigma. We are especially interested in the consequences of stigma for women in the workplace. Stigmatization of women is a multi-level process, so this chapter focuses on the antecedents (sources of stigma) and outcomes (consequences of stigma) for women at the individual level, organizational level and the societal level. The proposed chapter will make contributions to the areas of management, diversity and gender studies.
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Seyed Hossein Razavi Hajiagha, Niloofar Ahmadzadeh Kandi, Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji, Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi and Shide Sadat Hashemi
Science and technology parks (STPs) have a limited capacity, which can create challenging conditions for applicants. This makes the location selection a multi-criteria…
Abstract
Purpose
Science and technology parks (STPs) have a limited capacity, which can create challenging conditions for applicants. This makes the location selection a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem to find and apply for the most appropriate STP with the highest accordance with the startup's requirements. This research aims to select the most appropriate STP to locate an international entrepreneurial pharmaceutical startup under uncertainty. Since drugs are generally produced domestically in developing countries such as Iran, the access of pharmaceutical startups to the resources provided by STPs can lead to overcoming competitors and improving the country's health system.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the factors or attributes effective on startup location were extracted through a two-round Delphi method, which was performed among 15 experts within three groups. Subsequently, the determining factors were used to select the location of a pharmaceutical startup among possible STPs. In this regard, decision-makers were allowed to use different types of numbers to transfer their opinion. Afterward, the heterogeneous weighted aggregated sum product assessment (HWASPAS) method was applied to calculate the score of each alternative and rank them to place the studied startup successfully.
Findings
The results indicated that Tehran STP stands in the first place; however, if the decision was made based on single criterion like cost, some other STPs could be preferable, and many managers would lose this choice. Furthermore, the results of the proposed method were close to other popular heterogeneous MCDM approaches.
Originality/value
A heterogeneous WASPAS is developed in this article for the first time to enable international entrepreneurs to imply their opinion with various values and linguistic variables to reduce the emphasis on accurate data in an uncertain environment.
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Margarita Georgousopoulou, Max Chipulu, Udechukwu Ojiako and Johnnie Johnson
Current research in the area of risk management within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) appears predisposed towards risk, predominantly dealing with the willingness of…
Abstract
Purpose
Current research in the area of risk management within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) appears predisposed towards risk, predominantly dealing with the willingness of SMEs to take on losses. However, in this pilot study, the authors aim to focus on a different aspect of risk management in SMEs, namely the risk preferences. Risk preferences in this case are regarded as the willingness of SME proprietors to take on risks that are likely to lead to investment gains.
Design/methodology/approach
Data is gathered via a combination of a survey questionnaire and a probability scenario toolset. The authors sampled a total of 150 SME proprietors operating in Greece. The data was analysed using a combination of regression models and binomial tests.
Findings
The results suggest that we cannot, as previous literature suggests, conclude that SME proprietors generally exhibit a negative risk preference.
Originality/value
In light of Greece's recent economic difficulty, and in acknowledgement of the critical role played by SMEs in the Greek economy, this study addresses a topical subject in entrepreneurship research: what are the factors determining investment risk preferences?
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Sadaf Nisar, Mumtaz Anwar Chaudhry, Asma Awan, Faisal Faisal and Sami Ur Rahman
This paper examines and compares the role of social protection to promote inclusive growth in two countries (once related), Pakistan and Bangladesh, from 1984 to 2020, using…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines and compares the role of social protection to promote inclusive growth in two countries (once related), Pakistan and Bangladesh, from 1984 to 2020, using annual time series data.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used principal component analysis to develop the index of social protection, inclusive growth and macroeconomic stability. It also employed co-integration with impulse response function and fully modified ordinary least squares test for long-run cointegration.
Findings
The key results highlighted that social protection positively promotes inclusive growth in both countries. However, Bangladesh attains a high position in achieving inclusive growth through the mechanism of welfare programs. Findings show that institutional quality, macroeconomic stability and globalization are the positive and significant drivers of inclusive growth in both countries. It also confirms that macroeconomic stability and globalization are contributing more to achieving inclusive growth in Bangladesh as compared to Pakistan.
Practical implications
Institutions and macroeconomic stability in both countries are critical toward providing a transparent system of welfare schemes to achieve inclusive growth. Shocks to social protection schemes in Pakistan are inconsistent for achieving inclusive growth as compared to Bangladesh.
Originality/value
The study extends the empirical measurement of social protection and inclusive growth while using protracted dimensions and indicators. It further examines and compares the dynamics of social protection programs for inclusive growth in two countries once related. For further originality and reliability, this study checks the robustness of long-run estimates by disaggregating the institutional quality and globalization into their key dimensions.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-07-2023-0548
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Jonathan Tweedie and Matteo Ronzani
To advance understanding of transparency by problematising the motivations and strategies of a so far underexplored group: its users.
Abstract
Purpose
To advance understanding of transparency by problematising the motivations and strategies of a so far underexplored group: its users.
Design/methodology/approach
We explore the relationship between blindness, visibility, and transparency by drawing on our analysis of Max Frisch’s experimental novel Gantenbein (1964), in which the protagonist lives a life of feigned blindness.
Findings
The accounting scholarly debate on transparency has neglected the users of transparency. We address this through a novel theorisation of transparency as a game, highlighting some of its distinctive features and paradoxes.
Originality/value
By theorising the transparency game we move beyond concerns with what transparency reveals or conceals and conceptualise the motivations and strategies of the players engaged in this game. We show how different players have something to gain from the transparency game and warn of its emancipatory limits.