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Can conflict be a desirable step in trust-building within international strategic alliances? A systematic literature review and typology
No full textIn the context of international alliance formation and stability, conflicts are traditionally represented as impediments, to be avoided or at least minimised. Motivated by earlier research and Positive Organisational Scholarship, we problematise the literature on conflicts and challenge such assumptions, coming up with a new research question: ‘How might conflicts be managed to build trust between international partners and ultimately support international strategic alliance formation and stability?’ We create a typology linking constructive conflict management procedures and trust. A better understanding of calculative trust, cognitive trust, and the progression from calculative to cognitive trust can facilitate the achievement of this goal. Well-managed conflicts can enhance trust-building between partners (prospective or current), supporting over time alliance formation and stability. Conflict can be changed from accustomed negative perceptions to a force for good, following a problematisation approach. In our typology, we explore the link of each procedure with calculative trust, cognitive trust, and the transition between calculative and cognitive trust. We create three meta-categories for these nine procedures and select examples from the literature that are connected to four established theoretical frameworks in the international strategic alliances area, i.e. transaction cost, institutional perspective, resource-based view, and organisational learning
Techno-organisational network and reliable implementation of GPS technology for people with dementia and their caregivers in the community
No full textBackground: There is a limited understanding of the intricate web of roles and expectations of social-material actors in implementing GPS technology in community settings. This study provides deeper insights into family caregivers’ experiences using GPS technology for individuals with dementia. Methods: Fourteen individual dyads (a person with dementia and nominated caregiver) out of 45 who received GPS trackers and were followed for six months as part of a GPS feasibility trial attended focus group interviews. The focus group was guided by semi-structured questions based on three primary outcomes: reduced burden of care (care factors), quality of life of the wearer (wearer factors), and practicalities of the device (device factors). Data was coded inductively using NVivo Pro version 12.6.1, and analysis was guided by qualitative content analysis. Results: The findings suggest that family caregivers experienced reduced stress and anxiety when using GPS technology since they could pinpoint the exact location of the person with dementia at any given time. The effectiveness or otherwise of socio-material actors (e.g., individuals with dementia, GPS device features, mobile networks, neighbours’) informed caregivers’ overall experience and determined how much longer the technology was used. These factors were crucial in the social inclusion of individuals with dementia in public spaces and in deciding whether GPS technology could delay early admission into 24-hour care. Conclusions: Our findings highlight important practical implications. Implementation of GPS technology in community family care settings relies on the effective delegation of roles among various human (carers, wearers, neighbours) and non-human (devices, mobile networks, GPS systems) actors.</p
Introduction
No full textThis book explores the dual nature of entrepreneurship, revealing how it can either drive economic advancement or perpetuate harm, largely influenced by institutional contexts. Leveraging Baumol’s (1990) framework that differentiates between productive, unproductive, and destructive entrepreneurship, we focus our analysis on emerging markets that struggle with institutional voids—characterized by weak regulations, pervasive corruption, and substantial informal sectors—that encourage rent-seeking behaviors. In contrast to advanced economies, where insti-tutional mechanisms can mitigate short-term harms, weaker institutions in emerging markets exacerbate the prevalence of destructive entrepreneurship. This perpetuates a cycle of unproductive resource allocation, heightening inequality, market distortions, and systemic inefficiencies. Employing qualitative and econometric methodologies, the chapters unpack various drivers of harmful entrepreneurship, including survival-driven informality, gaps in education, hierarchical networks, and governance failures. By addressing a critical gap in the existing literature, this volume highlights how institutional deficiencies shape entrepreneurial outcomes in emerging economies, revealing diverse factors and their implications across different contexts. Further-more, by illuminating the complex interplay between institutional environments and entrepreneurial behavior, the book offers actionable insights for policymakers and scholars. These insights can help realign incentives towards productive ventures, ultimately fostering equitable and sustainable development in resource-constrained settings.</p
Productivity analysis of Indian non-bank financial institutes under uncertainty:A dynamic two-stage DEA approach
Full text linkThe conventional multi-period two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model assesses the overall performance of a production system comprised of two stages across multiple time periods. In situations of uncertainty, this study incorporates fuzzy sets theory to measure efficiency both on an overall and period-specific basis. The major contribution of this research lies in its examination of productivity changes over time within the framework of fuzzy two-stage DEA. Specifically, the study provides valuable insights into Indian non-bank financial institutes (NBFIs) using the proposed two-stage DEA approach. NBFIs are structured in two consecutive stages: premium acquisition and profit operations, with the former stage being linked sequentially to the latter. The central idea of this investigation is to delve into the internal operations of both public and private NBFIs across multiple periods, taking into consideration the presence of negative data. The multi-period two-stage DEA model is presented in Indian NBFIs for the first time in this research by incorporating the handling of negative data framework under uncertainty. The key findings reveal that private NBFIs in India demonstrate lower efficiency compared to their public counterparts. In other words, none of the NBFIs are fully efficient, with public NBFIs consistently outperforming their private counterparts. To deepen the analysis, the second phase employs regression analysis to evaluate the impact of various external factors. The results highlight that factors such as size and return on assets (ROA) have a more substantial influence on efficiency than age and firm type
Super-Natural:Television Singing, the Special Guest Star and Stevie Nicks in American Horror Story (2011-)
No full textAmerican Horror Story (2011–) is a series-length anthology horror show. Created by superstar producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk and featuring a range of recognisable A-list stars and familiar television actors, the series is glossy, expensive, exaggerated, and often deliberately controversial. Part of AHS’s over-the-top aesthetic is its extensive and attention-grabbing soundtrack, which combines classic horror tropes with notable ‘musical moments’ that feature a range of pre-existing tracks.Additionally, moments of vocal performance are used to create standout sequences that act deliberately to change the pace and mood of individual episodes, providing an often-literal stage for the playing out of the series’ complex registers of star and character identification. This chapter focuses on three ‘guest star’ episodes of AHS that include vocal performances by singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. These scenes deliberately disrupt and destabilise narrative flow, but in ways that challenge our understanding of more conventional musical moments. They are simultaneously over-enhanced and naturalised, and can be read as both inside and out of AHS’s heavily constructed, self- consciously complex ‘reality’. It is not only the star presence of Nicks that facilitates this stand-out strangeness, but more specifically her musical voice: even in a series saturated with visual, narrative and sonic excess, singing retains a special, elevated aura of signification
A Story of the Narrative Features of a Liveable Town:Discovering Huddersfield Through Walking
No full textThis paper investigates and reflects upon the narrative qualities of a series of places and buildings that it is possible to discover and experience during a walk. The aim is to identify and reflect on aspects that can enrich people’s lives
Vital materialism from social theory to sociological lines of flight
Full text linkThis paper reflects on the contributions of Jane Bennett and William Connolly at the seminar in Cardiff from the perspective of a new materialist social scientist. I first consider the distinction between philosophy and social inquiry, focusing on translating complex philosophical concepts into practical research methods. The paper then explores how – using Deleuze’s ethological framework – new materialist, posthuman and vital materialist ideas offer fresh perspectives on sociological data. I then make links between vital materialism and the monism and post-anthropocentrism of new materialism, indigenous ontologies and feminist posthumanism, applying these insights to the topics of environmental sustainability, sustainable development and environmental justice. I suggest that this interdisciplinary approach can provide innovative frameworks for addressing real-world challenges for society and the environment
Postnatal mental health
No full textMental health difficulties that begin or worsen during pregnancy, birth or the first postnatal year are common and can be experienced by any parent or person pursuing parenthood. Such perinatal mental health difficulties can be devastating for all involved, including gestational and non-gestational parents, babies, and other children in the family. Impacts can last across generations however these are neither inevitable nor irreversible: early identification of need and prompt treatment are vital.Whilst evidence is limited concerning rates of perinatal mental health conditions in sexual and gender minority groups, some research does suggest increased vulnerability. To understand, identify, and meet the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ parents, it is relevant to consider vulnerability factors that may be shared with cisheterosexual parents, but also those aspects that may be amplified or distinct; for example, gender dysphoria during pregnancy, birth and lactation, the impact of heteronormative health systems, role insecurity for non-gestational or non-biological parents, and parenting without templates/role models. We explore potential protective factors within LGBTQ+ households, such as communication regarding parenting expectations and divisions of tasks. Ultimately, anyone can experience perinatal mental health difficulties and we present learning opportunities for those providing care in the perinatal period, across the continuum of universal promotion of good mental health, through to caring for parents affected by more severe or complex mental health needs
Reduced switch count multilevel inverter topology for power grid integration
No full textThis paper presents a novel and efficient topology for multilevel inverters (MLIs), specifically for power system applications, with an emphasis on minimizing the power switches count. The proposed topology integrates a cascaded configuration of three-phase traditional H-bridge inverters with a multistring multilevel inverter. This innovative design significantly reduces harmonic distortion, energy losses, system dimensions, and both the cost and complexity of the hardware, key considerations for practical grid integration. Simulations conducted in MATLAB/Simulink verify the proposed topology's capability to achieve up to six, twelve and eighteen voltage levels with the connection of only three, five and seven DC sources. This feature offers substantial improvements in power quality and overall system efficiency. Experimental validation of the developed prototype further confirms a notable reduction in harmonic distortion, achieving an approximate 15 % and 1.2 % voltage and current THD respectively. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed topology in enhancing grid integration performance by minimizing undesirable harmonics and improving system reliability and sustainability. Additionally, the simplified hardware and cost-efficiency position this approach as a promising solution for large-scale different DC sources integration into power grid.</p
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