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Uncovering the Motives and Essentials of Nascent Women Entrepreneurs
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to delve into women entrepreneurs’ motivations and perceptions of what is needed to achieve entrepreneurial success. Through semi-structured interviews, we found that most participants reported multiple reasons for wanting to be an entrepreneur; these motives were categorized as external and internal. Results also show what attributes and actions these women believe are critical to success. Our study contributes to the field by employing a qualitative design that uncovered the richness and diversity of women’s experiences in becoming business owners. The findings have implications for policymakers and organizations seeking to advance women entrepreneurship
What Happened to Intellectual Curiosity?
Get PDFAnthropogenic Climate Change (ACC) is a contentious subject with two camps: the warmists and the skeptics. The warmists claim a 97% consensus among the world’s scientists. Climatologist, Dr. Roy Spencer postulated that the so-called 97% consensus was not comprised of scientists who did an independent examination of the data but were merely not disputing the hypothesis. This paper examined the extent to which there was acceptance of the ACC hypothesis in the academic community and whether the skeptic position was acknowledged. The study found that the ACC hypothesis was overwhelmingly accepted with very little acknowledgement of the skeptic position
Navigating Grey Zones: A Study of Informal Business Networks in Emerging Economies
Get PDFThis study investigates how businesses in emerging economies strategically use informal networks to navigate regulatory and market challenges. Through a comprehensive literature review and case studies from Uganda, Nigeria, and India, the research highlights the dual role of informal networks in both economic and social dimensions. These networks are essential for overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, accessing resources, and managing risks where formal institutions are often inadequate. The study introduces a dual-framework theory emphasizing the cost-saving and relational benefits of these networks. It also explores the behavioural factors—such as trust, relational capital, and social norms—that sustain these networks' effectiveness. Sectoral differences in the reliance on informal networks are analyzed, with a focus on agriculture, manufacturing, construction, retail, and services. The paper concludes by discussing policy implications and suggests ways to integrate informal practices into the formal economy while retaining their adaptive benefits. Future research directions are also proposed to better align informal networks with formal structures for sustainable growth in emerging markets
Using MRP and JIT Techniques for Smart Procurement and Operations of a Restaurant
Get PDFOrganisations in the hospitality sector face problems in meeting customers’ demands of food items within an expected time and cost. However, some materials planning and procurement techniques may help process food items within acceptable lead times. The organisation needs to know what and how much it has on hand and what and how much to purchase from external sources. This paper applied the MRP and JIT concepts in a medium-sized restaurant named that creates various types of food items using raw materials from local and overseas sources. The paper has used actual data over ten weeks of sales of the most popular food items to forecast future demand using a moving average forecasting model. By using the forecast of end products and other information (viz. product structure, bill of materials, inventory on hand, lead-time), an MRP spreadsheet for various raw materials was generated, which would be supplied using the JIT scheduling to meet current and future customer demands within the expected time and at the lowest cost
Beyond Cost Benefit Analysis: A SAM-CGE Model for Project-Program Evaluation
Get PDFThis paper presents a new methodology of project evaluation based on the use of a social accounting matrix (SAM). The proposed method considers both the project as an autonomous shock and an endogenous activity, thus capturing both the demand and the supply side effects that can be associated with investment. In assessing project impact, these two effects have to be considered complementary, even though they may be combined in different proportions and with different strength in different practical cases. The autonomous dimension is however a distinctive feature of a project as an economic concept. Its consideration has important implications for assessing a project’s structural impact as an activity ranging from complete isolation to total embeddedness in the economic system. The paper also shows that both in its construction and operational phases the project displays structural effects on the economic system and that these effects may be sizable and partly offsetting the project’s direct impact on demand and supply variables
Unemployment, Financial Literacy, and Retirement: Evidence From National Data Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFUnemployment rates changed dramatically and peaked at 14.7% in April 2020 in the United States. The labor market force might affect households’ retirement differently before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. By utilizing 2018 and 2021 datasets, the study mainly contributes to the following insights related to retirement decisions. First, the current study finds a positive correlation between state-level unemployment rates and retirement. Second, this study finds that both objective and subjective financial literacy, financial confidence, age, and households without a child or a financially dependent child are positively associated with retirement in both pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. Financial market participation, financial risk, and income drop are negatively associated with retirement in pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. We find different significant results regarding the annual income, savings, and the number of children in a household before and during the pandemic. The findings extend the literature on unemployment and retirement. Financial professionals and the government will apply the empirical findings to the practice
Exploring the Role of the Dutch East India Company in Making Taiwan a Center for the Sugar Trade From 1624 to 1662
Get PDFThis article intends to explore the actual role of the Dutch East India Company during the Dutch colonial period from 1624 to 1662, when Taiwan became a sugar supply center and its trade status was upgraded from a trading relay station to a trading center for sugar trade with Eurasian markets. This article tests the established model and hypothesis through five dimensions. Except for the fourth dimension, the others all obtain support for the hypothesis. The research results found that whether it is from the improvement of Taiwan’s sugar supply and sugar trade status, or the booming period of the Dutch East India Company’s sugar trade and the two-stage rise in European sugar prices, in addition to marking changes in Taiwan’s industrial transformation and trade status, all of this highlights that the Dutch East India Company indeed played a pivotal role in Taiwan during this process
Ad Agencies’ Strategic Plan to Combat the Internet Crisis: A Study of Their Deliberations and Actions
Get PDFBy disrupting their business model and their approach to advertising, the Internet has created a crisis for ad agencies. While changes in communication technologies continue to affect agencies, they do not necessarily pose a threat. The most serious threats come from media companies and audiences. Using content analysis, the study attempts to provide insights into the strategic planning process used by ad agencies. The Internet has transformed the industry by making precision and accuracy in audience targeting possible, but it has also intensified the competition ad agencies face from newcomers. The highest competitive threat comes from niches that specialize in social media, and not from advertisers who do their own ads in-house. The study suggests, having successfully embraced digital advertising, agencies are at a crossroad. They can choose to specialize in niches such as social media and/or opt to broaden their market by becoming a one-stop shop for all other marketing services
Digital Transformation of Organizations and Their Organizational Cultures: A Case Study in a National Defense Industry
Get PDFDigital transformation is essential for organizations to gain a competitive edge in today’s fast-changing environment. It involves a radical shift in products, services, people, and processes to enhance performance, posing a significant challenge. This paper explores digital transformation within a national defense company, which already upholds high-quality standards and a strong culture—key factors in facilitating digital transformation. The literature on organizational digital transformation and its benefits is reviewed, and the digitalization process is analyzed to outline the steps needed for transformation. A crucial prerequisite is cultivating an adaptive, high-performance culture, which requires assessing the current organizational state and implementing necessary actions. This paper presents an assessment of the company and proposes actions for cultural and digital transformation. The inextricable link between digital transformation and organizational culture change is highlighted, along with the benefits, barriers, and strategic proposals for digital strategy, vision, and mission
Human Rights, Business and the Investment Ombudsman of the Philippines
Get PDFHuman rights and business are crucial elements in the development of the Philippine economy. The constitution safeguards the rights of both juridical and natural persons, including business owners and employees who play vital roles in economic progress for the welfare of all citizens. Businesses aim to generate profits, create jobs, and enrich investors through the utilization of labor and resources. However, unregulated operations can lead to resource exploitation, harming other stakeholders like labor, government, environment, and customers. The Office of the Ombudsman serves as the protector of legal rights for these entities. This paper explores the interplay between human rights, business, and the Investment Ombudsman in the Philippines. It delves into discussions on UN Business and Human Rights concepts, addressing political challenges, governance practices, stakeholder recommendations, and the Investment Ombudsman's role. This research can guide those interested in studying governance, business, and human rights integration, promoting sustainable development for the benefit of society