This chapter shifts contemporary debates on Eurocentrism from its focus on European social theory to an analysis of its moorings in non-Atlantic sociological traditions and…
Abstract
This chapter shifts contemporary debates on Eurocentrism from its focus on European social theory to an analysis of its moorings in non-Atlantic sociological traditions and especially those within ex-colonial countries. It discusses the sociological/anthropological visions of two first generation sociologists/anthropologists from India, G. S. Ghurye (1893–1983) and D. P. Mukerji (1894–1961), within Orientalist-Eurocentric positions and explores how these are reinvented in the work of contemporary sociologist T. N. Madan (1933–). It suggests that colonial processes and its institutions together with “derivative” nationalist ideas have played and continue to play important mediatory role in organizing these Orientalist-Eurocentric visions.
The chapter presents three sets of arguments. First it suggests that in order to understand postcolonialism it is imperative to lay out the organic links between Orientalism and Eurocentrism. Eurocentrism and its mirror Orientalism mediated to frame social science language in terms of the binaries of universal (the West) and particular (the East). The particular was represented in India through the discipline of anthropology. The latter studied “traditions” through the themes of religion, caste, and family and kinship. When sociology emerged as a discipline in India in the early twentieth century, it continued to use the language organized by anthropology to analyze the particular cultural traditions of the country. Second, I suggest that these binaries also framed nationalist thought and the latter mediated in framing the sociological ideas of G. S. Ghurye and D. P. Mukerji which were embedded in Eurocentric-Orientalist principles. Third, I analyze the ideas of the contemporary social theorist T. N. Madan to indicate how his perspective continues to derive its positions from Orientalist-Eurocentric positions and ignores an engagement with critics who have questioned Orientalist Eurocentrism. Disregarding these arguments implies the legitimation of the latter perspective derived from the disciplines of sociology/anthropology.
The chapter contends that a decolonized critique of colonial social science has existed in other regions of the world including India, and that this perspective needs to be retrieved by social theorists to reformulate the sociological discourse as a study of modern India. It also suggests that contemporary analysis of Eurocentrism needs to move out from within the circuits of knowledge defined by received colonial geopolitical enclaves in order to assess the way production, distribution, and consumption of Orientalist-Eurocentric perspectives have organized sociological traditions across the world including the Global South.
Royal Madan and Shubhankar Bhowmick
Functionally graded materials are a special class of composites in which material are graded either continuously or layered wise depending upon its applications. With such…
Abstract
Purpose
Functionally graded materials are a special class of composites in which material are graded either continuously or layered wise depending upon its applications. With such variations of materials, the properties of structure vary either lengthwise or thickness wise. This paper aims to investigate models for effective estimation of material properties, as it is necessary for industries to identify the properties of composites or functionally graded materials (FGM’s) before manufacturing and also to develop novel material combinations.
Design/methodology/approach
Available models were compared for different material combinations and tested with experimental data for properties such as Young’s modulus, density, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and thermal conductivity. Combinations of metal–ceramic and metal–metal were selected such that their ratios cover a wide range of materials.
Findings
This study reveals different models will be required depending on the material used and properties to be identified.
Practical implications
The results of the present work will help researchers in the effective modeling of composites or FGM’s for any analysis.
Originality/value
This paper presents a comparison and review of various analytical methods with experimental data graphically to find out the best suitable method. For the first time, the Halpin-Tsai model was extended in the analysis of the CTE which shows good approximations.
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Keywords
Shivani Bali, Vikram Bali, Rajendra Prasad Mohanty and Dev Gaur
Recently, blockchain technology (BT) has resolved healthcare data management challenges. It helps healthcare providers automate medical records and mining to aid in data sharing…
Abstract
Purpose
Recently, blockchain technology (BT) has resolved healthcare data management challenges. It helps healthcare providers automate medical records and mining to aid in data sharing and making more accurate diagnoses. This paper attempts to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for successfully implementing BT in healthcare.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is methodologically structured in four phases. The first phase leads to identifying success factors by reviewing the extant literature. In the second phase, expert opinions were solicited to authenticate the critical success factors required to implement BT in the healthcare sector. Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method was employed to find the cause-and-effect relationship among the third phase’s critical success factors. In phase 4, the authors resort to validating the final results and findings.
Findings
Based on the analysis, 21 CSFs were identified and grouped under six dimensions. After applying the DEMATEL technique, nine factors belong to the causal group, and the remaining 12 factors fall under the effect group. The top three influencing factors of blockchain technology implementation in the healthcare ecosystem are data transparency, track and traceability and government support, whereas; implementation cost was the least influential.
Originality/value
This study provides a roadmap and may facilitate healthcare professionals to overcome contemporary challenges with the help of BT.
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Mohammad M. Taamneh, Manaf Al-Okaily, Jamal Daoud Abudoleh, Rokaya Albdareen and Abdallah M. Taamneh
The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between green human resource management (GHRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In addition, this study also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between green human resource management (GHRM) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In addition, this study also investigates how the impact of GHRM varies depending on the extent of transformational leadership.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a quantitative approach, the sample consists of 376 employees who hold leadership positions in the academic body and those who work in human resources units at universities who won the Web Metric Award.
Findings
Results have shown that all GHRM practices were found to have a significant and positive effect on CSR. In addition, the findings revealed that transformational leadership positively moderates the relationship between GHRM and CSR.
Originality/value
The findings of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence of the positive relationship between GHRM practices, transformational leadership and CSR performance. In addition, the study highlights the moderating influence of transformational leadership on the relationship between GHRM and CSR, suggesting that transformational leadership can increase the efficacy of GHRM practices in promoting CSR outcomes.
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Samuel Ssekajja Mayanja, Henry Mutebi and Juliet Wakaisuka Isingoma
This study examines the mediating role of self-organization and entrepreneurial learning behaviors in the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and sustainability of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the mediating role of self-organization and entrepreneurial learning behaviors in the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and sustainability of women owned micro-enterprise performance.
Design/methodology/approach
We tested our model based on a sample of 518 women-owned micro-enterprises in Eastern Uganda using ordinary partial least squares regression through Smart PLS version 3.3.3.
Findings
The results show a direct relationship between entrepreneurial networking, entrepreneurial learning behavior, self-organization and sustainability of women owned micro-enterprise performance. In addition, self-organization mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial networking, entrepreneurial learning behavior and sustainability of women owned micro-enterprise performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurial learning behavior mediates the relationship between self-organization and sustainability of women owned micro-enterprise performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study was cross-sectional; it is possible that the views held by individuals may change over the years.
Originality/value
This research contributes to gender-based sustainability of micro-enterprise performance by empirically testing the anecdotal and conceptual evidence.
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Madan Kataria, Ros Ben-Moshe and Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
The purpose of this paper is to meet Dr Madan Kataria, the founder and creator of Laughter Yoga.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to meet Dr Madan Kataria, the founder and creator of Laughter Yoga.
Design/methodology/approach
This case study is presented in two sections: a transcribed autobiography of Madan Kataria, followed by a ten-question interview with him.
Findings
The popularity of Laughter Yoga (LY) has spread from a handful of people since 1995 to a global movement with tens of thousands of people who commune in person and online, laughing for the health of it.
Research limitations/implications
This is a personal narrative, albeit from someone who has been at the forefront of using intentional laughter for well-being for 30 years.
Practical implications
LY promotes an array of physical, psychological and emotional health outcomes that does not rely on humour or jokes to stimulate laughter. It is a beneficial resource suited for use in vulnerable population groups, including people experiencing depression or anxiety.
Social implications
The LY methodology is suited to people of all ages and abilities, enhancing mental health, decreasing stress levels and growing social connections and community through the universal language of laughter.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case study and interview with Dr Kataria that delves into his personal background, outlining his motivation and experience behind founding LY internationally.
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Royal Madan and Shubhankar Bhowmick
The purpose of this study is to investigate Thermo-mechanical limit elastic speed analysis of functionally graded (FG) rotating disks with the temperature-dependent material…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate Thermo-mechanical limit elastic speed analysis of functionally graded (FG) rotating disks with the temperature-dependent material properties. Three different material models i.e. power law, sigmoid law and exponential law, along with varying disk profiles, namely, uniform thickness, tapered and exponential disk was considered.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology adopted was variational principle wherein the solution was obtained by Galerkin’s error minimization principle. The Young’s modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion and yield stress variation were considered temperature-dependent.
Findings
The study shows a substantial increase in limit speed as disk profiles change from uniform thickness to exponentially varying thickness. At any radius in a disk, the difference in von Mises stress and yield strength shows the remaining stress-bearing capacity of material at that location.
Practical implications
Rotating disks are irreplaceable components in machinery and are used widely from power transmission assemblies (for example, gas turbine disks in an aircraft) to energy storage devices. During operations, these structures are mainly subjected to a combination of mechanical and thermal loadings.
Originality/value
The findings of the present study illustrate the best material models and their grading index, desired for the fabrication of uniform, as well as varying FG disks. Finite element analysis has been performed to validate the present study and good agreement between both the methods is seen.
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DILIP B. MADAN and GAVIN S. MCPHAIL
Asset allocation has primarily focused its attention on attaining mean variance efficiency by employing diversification strategies following the portfolio selection methodologies…
Abstract
Asset allocation has primarily focused its attention on attaining mean variance efficiency by employing diversification strategies following the portfolio selection methodologies of Markowitz[1952]. These are important principles that have given rise to a large variety of diversified investment choices in mutual funds that now outnumber the available choices for investment in stocks. Paralleling this development has been a growing interest in the second odd moment describing returns, the level of skewness. The empirical stability of return skewness has been noted in Beedles and Simkowitz[1980]. Earlier, the importance of skewness for portfolio selection was studied by Arditi and Levy[1975] and Kraus and Litzenberger[1976]. More recently, motivated by the persistence skews observed in option markets (Bates[1991]), Bakshi Kapadia, and Madan [2000] take up the issue of studying the links between the statistical and risk neutral skews, while Harvey and Siddique[1999] address the asset pricing implications of investor preferences for skewness. Evidence is also presented by Carr, Geman, Madan, and Yor [2000] that the primary model for diversified returns is that of a pure jump return process reflecting both, excess kurtosis and skewness.