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Dual Interaction of Interest and Norm in Transcultural Communication: A Case Study of KH Agricultural Company’s Everyday Operations in Nkoranza, Ghana
No full textFor the past two decades, more and more Chinese companies have been investing in Africa and operating in local communities, and it is inevitable for them to interact with internal and external entities on different levels in their daily operations, which contain both business activities and everyday life. Taking a Chinese agricultural company that promotes caster-oil plant in Ghana as an example, this paper depicts and explains its interaction with Ghanaian employees, community residents and local authority from both the “interest” and “norm” interaction. However, insufficient trust, emotional incoordination and unequal power relationship in everyday life left the company in an extremely unstable state. Under the impact of some accidental events, contradiction escalated step by step, ultimately causing the company to withdraw itself from Ghana. This also provides a warning for other Chinese enterprises operating overseas, especially those deeply involved in local communities, because they need to deal with the “interest-norm ” interaction in their business activities and achieve mutual understanding in everyday life at the same time
The Construction and Development of Cultural Heritage in Cultural Tourism Performances: Perspectives of Neo-classical “Structural Functionalism”
No full textThis paper applies the Neo-classical “Structural Functionalism” to study the mutual construction relationship between cultural heritage and cultural-tourism performance during the integration and development process of culture and tourism. The relationship mainly presents two forms: “macro-structure” and “micro-structure”. The term “macro-structures” refers to the original forms of scenic sites and tourist destinations within the cultural tourism framework, while “micro-structures” denote the embedded structural relationships—such as coexistence, opposition, and interconnection—within these macro-structures, as well as the differentiated relational configurations across various sub-genres of performance. There are three main types of “micro-structures”, namely Landscape-base Live Performances, Immersive Scenario Performances, and Carnival-style Theme Park Performances. The inheritance of cultural heritage within these structures primarily satisfies the three experiential functions: traditional way of viewing, immersive viewing, and consumption while playing. Therefore, the mutual construction between cultural heritage and cultural-tourism performances stems from a dialectical composition that is both “unified” and “diverse”, emerging from shared aesthetic empathy of the era. The core principles of constructing this mutual construction relationship are unified dramatic form, differentiated composition, cultural deconstruction, and modern expression
Benchmarking Correctional Facilities in the United States: An Undesirable Output Data Envelopment Analysis Model
No full textThis study evaluated the operational efficiency of 741 U.S. correctional facilities using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with five inputs and two outputs, including undesirable outputs like disciplinary reports. An undesirable-output DEA model identified 128 efficient and 616 inefficient facilities. Efficient benchmarks averaged 825 capacity, 36.3 years in age, 31 professional staff, 189 security staff, 898 inmates, 1,043 disciplinary reports, and $27.6 million in annual costs. Hypothesis testing revealed that GED, ESL, vocational training, and health services were associated with higher efficiency. The DEA model offers a valuable tool for policymakers to benchmark and improve correctional facility operations nationwide
Home Country Responsibility: Foreign Direct Investors in Less and Least Developed Countries
No full textInward foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a crucial role in the economic development of less and least developed countries. While these firms have the potential to positively influence economic development in host countries, they may also become dominant. This can lead to various challenges, such as market distortions, competitive challenges for domestic firms, increased dependency of the domestic industry and fiscal policy on large foreign investors, and potentially adverse social and environmental impacts. Ultimately, the quality of the host country’s institutions and governance determine whether inward FDI is a curse or a blessing. This is especially true for natural resource industries. This literature-based theoretical thesis paper argues that the institutional circumstances of least and less developed countries often have negative implications for inward foreign direct investment (FDI), such as weak governance structures and corruption. Therefore, it is imperative that home countries assume responsibility for their investors in these countries so that the right kind of foreign investors lead to a mutually beneficial outcome for investors and the host economy
Carbon Prices and Carbon Emissions: Estimating a Three-Year Causal Lag
No full textThis paper employs a 20-year panel data set of nearly every country in the world to estimate how a positive price on carbon effects carbon emissions and other variables. Results suggest that a $100 carbon price is estimated to reduce carbon by 29%. But this reduction takes three years to materialize. The effect of the carbon price on carbon emissions within the first two years of implementation is essentially zero. The carbon price is also estimated, with a three-year lag, to reduce overall energy consumption and wind energy production but not solar energy production
Terms-of-Trade Policy Uncertainty and Market Returns
No full textThe study examined the effects of terms-of-trade policy uncertainty on market returns of companies sourcing specific commodities in the global market. The author conducted event studies of the Executive Office Announcement (EO-A) of March 8th, 2018, as well as a World Trade Organization Announcement (WTO-A) of February 22nd, 2017, to determine if these announcements on publicly traded manufacturing companies in specific industries. The author found that markets reacted more to delayed timing of the WTO announcements than to Executive Office announcements, which were often more ill-timed and sporadic
A Critical Review of Intellectual Capital Proxies
No full textAs the global economy shifts from an industrial to a knowledge-based paradigm, intellectual capital (IC) has become a critical driver of organizational value and competitiveness. Encompassing human, structural, and relational resources, IC highlights the growing importance of intangible assets in innovation-driven industries. However, traditional accounting systems are poorly equipped to capture the value of these assets, prompting the development of various proxy indicators. This study evaluates six IC measurement proxies. It contributes to ongoing debates on measuring intellectual capital, providing a more nuanced and industry-specific framework that aligns with the complexities of today’s knowledge economy
ThinkSphere: A Privacy-Preserving Semantic Network Architecture for AI Democratization in SMEs
No full textThinkSphere offers a new, simple way for AI to find information. It’s designed to assist small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with significant challenges in leadership, data governance, and the responsible use of AI. Currently, AI often means losing control of your data, incurring excessive costs for data preparation, and lacking flexibility.
Our system has three main parts: Core, Client, and Widget. This design separates who owns the data from how AI understands it. This new system helps SMEs use AI more easily. It lets them make smarter decisions and better manage their business. It also makes sure data is used responsibly and helps leaders make quick choices based on real-time information. Early tests show that ThinkSphere can offer an AI solution that is easy to get, saves money, and is ethical. This helps make AI available to more businesses, especially SMEs
A Comparative Analysis of Performance Stress Management for Leaders, Managers, and other High Performing Individuals
No full textStress, a common human experience, impacts how individuals react to events. Leaders and high performers are particularly vulnerable to its effects. This research examines stressors in military deployments and major athletic competitions. The study compares how U.S. special operations service members and U.S. national team swimmers manage stress to maximize performance. Data collection involved interviews with retired Navy SEALs and active swim team members. Thematic analysis identified and compared their adaptive stress-coping strategies. The study's implications are significant. It aims to help leaders and managers identify effective techniques for managing workplace stress and boosting productivity, drawing from the strategies of these elite groups to enhance performance in demanding environments
Reframing Supply Chain Optimization— A Contextual Approach to Competitiveness
No full textOften touted as a key driver of competitiveness, supply chain optimization can sometimes yield counterproductive results when applied too rigidly. This research note highlights the pitfalls that arise when logistical process management overlooks the realities on the ground. Instead of focusing solely on cost reduction, it is essential to incorporate flexibility and adaptability to local specifics and market fluctuations. The approach outlined here, which challenges traditional supply chain management models, advocates for rethinking the optimization of logistical processes through the lens of contextual intelligence. From a marketing perspective, leaders must adopt strategies that prioritize responsiveness and adaptability, enabling them to enhance not only supply chain efficiency but also the overall customer experience. Emerging research is exploring several key areas, including the impact of information technologies, the interaction between automation and human intervention, and the critical role of resource localization in achieving high-performance logistics