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Challenges of succession planning among family businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Get PDFFamily businesses are those that are owned by members of a family, and in most cases, the father or mother have the overall responsibility for the day-to-day decisions of the business. Most family businesses tend to be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are an important component of the economy in many countries. The aim of this study was to understand the challenges facing family business owners during succession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study sought to identify the factors that lead to failure of family businesses in Saudi Arabia after these businesses have been transferred by the owners to their heirs.
In the existing literature, the discussion has examined the issue of succession, considering why it has to happen and the challenges thereof. The main issue is in identifying a solution that will make succession in family businesses a practice that can be conducted without controversies and challenges in families. These challenges are numerous, and mainly institutional. There is a tendency in Saudi Arabia to impose succession, which is caused by the dictates of tradition, culture, religion, and family.
This is a qualitative study, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with a number of respondents who were owners and successors of family businesses. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the responses and generalisations made.
The main finding of this study was that the institutional forces tend to have a major impact in the failure of succession planning by the owners, who eventually tend to leave their entities in a state of failure through their own in ability to act – an acquiescent behaviour that tends to lead to imposition.
Another finding of this study is that the government needs to create institutions that can offer training to business owners and offer other forms of support to family businesses. This is because family business owners do not have the necessary skills to ensure that they have succession plans ready so that continuity can be guaranteed when they leave their entities. On the other hand, if there are institutions that are specifically created to offer other forms of support to family businesses, the failure rate of family businesses after succession can be reduced.
The practical implications of this study include the following: First, business owners should be supported to manage their organisations in a way that can lead to continuity once they relinquish the day-to-day control of their businesses. Second, government support is crucial for successful succession to take place among family businesses. Third, succession of family business entities should be planned well in advance, to avoid quick and often rushed decisions, which tend to lead to the failure of such businesses.
This study contributes to the literature on owner behaviour in a dynamic business environment, as given in the literature on entrepreneurial innovation by Schumpeter. Another contribution is the suggested model of succession planning, which includes the factors that contribute to successful succession planning, and a model for successful succession planning among family businesses in Saudi Arabia.
This study proposes that future studies on succession planning among family businesses in Saudi Arabia can seek more respondents to avoid generalisations and there should be more participation of government officials among the respondents to ensure that the views of the government are represented
Developing a novel digital forensics readiness framework for wireless medical networks using specialised logging
Get PDFWireless Medical Networks (WMNs) have always been a vital component for the treatment and management of chronic diseases. However, the data generated by these networks keeps growing and has become a potential target for criminals seeking to capitalise on its sensitivity and value. Wireless networks also happen to be more vulnerable to attacks compared to wired networks. In the event of such attacks, it becomes really difficult to conduct a digital Forensics investigation. This paper investigates and suggests a proactive approach of digital forensics readiness within wireless medical networks by suggesting specialised monitoring and logging mechanisms. The research first identifies threats to wireless medical networks. It then undertakes a trajectory of a systematic review of previously proposed digital forensics frameworks and identifies challenges. Finally, it proposes a conceptual framework for Digital Forensics Readiness (DFR) for wireless medical networks. The paper, therefore, makes a novel contribution to the field of digital forensics. It suggests a more streamlined, robust, and decentralised framework that is partially underpinned by blockchain technology at the evidence management layer. The framework contributes to the enforcement of evidential data integrity whilst also securing wireless medical networks
Emerging pollutants characterization, mitigation and toxicity assessment of sewage wastewater treatment plant- India: A case study
Get PDFIndia faces major challenges related to fresh water supply and the reuse of treated wastewater is an important strategy to combat water scarcity. Wastewater in Gorakhpur, India, is treated by a decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) and the treated wastewater is reused in the rural area. This research provides important scientific data that ascertain the safety of wastewater reuse in this region. The physicochemical characteristics, including pigment, ionic strength, BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, salinity, total N, ammonium N, phenolics, heavy metals, and sulphate, of the inlet and outlet sewage water samples (SWWs) from a wastewater treatment facility was conducted. These parameters were found to be significantly over the national limit. The inlet and outlet samples were further characterised by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC–MS). SEM showed microstructure and the presence of various metals, polymers, and other co-pollutants in the samples and FT-IR confirmed the presence of aldehyde, hard liquor, and nitrogen molecules in the SWW's discharge. Many endocrine disruptors and potentially mutagenic chemical substances (e.g., Dodecane, Hexadecane, Octadecane etc.) were identified in the outlet SWW by the GC‐–MS analysis. Toxicity of the SWW was assessed via phytotoxicity assessment using Phaseolus mungo L. and histological and biochemical analyses of Heteropneustes fossilis in a 24-h exposure study. Results confirmed the wastewater was harmful and inhibited germination of P. mungo L. by >80% compared to the control, destroyed gill laminae and significantly increased oxidative stress (above 5% increase in catalase production) in H. fossilis. This work clearly demonstrated that the quality of the treated wastewater in Gorakhpur was poor and immediate action is needed before it can be discharged or reused
Environmental impact of e-waste management in Indian microscale informal sectors
Get PDFInappropriate e-waste processing in the informal sector is a serious issue in developing countries. Field investigations in microscale informal recycling sites have been performed to study the impact of hazardous metal(loid)s (released from e-waste dismantling) on the environment (water and soil). Eight hazardous metal(loid)s (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, Ni, and Cr) were primarily found in the monitored water and soil samples (Sangrampur, West Bengal) because of widespread informal e-waste handling and primitive processing. Elevated concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Cu, and Cr were observed in pond water samples (0.04, 1.62, 0.03, 1.40, 1.74 mg/L respectively). These ponds, which are regularly used for e-waste handling/dismantling, are usually flooded during the monsoon season mixing with further larger water resources — posing a serious threat to public health. Enriched levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn were detected in collected soil samples, both top surface soil (Pb up to 2042.27 ± 206.80, Cd up to 25.90 ± 9.53, Cu up to 6967.30 ± 711.70, and Zn up to 657.10 ± 67.05 mg/Kg) and deeper subsurface soil (Pb, 419.70 ± 44.70; Cd, 18.34 ± 3.81; Cu, 3928.60 ± 356.40; and Zn, 134.40 ± 33.40 mg/Kg), compared to the levels of As, Hg, Ni, and Cr. Seasonal variation of soil metal(loid) content indicated that higher levels of most of the metal(loids) were detected in the pre-monsoon (Nov–May) season, possibly due to the monsoonal dilution effect, except for Pb and Cd. The results highlighted that the composition and the handling of e-waste were important factors affecting the metal(loid) concentrations. E-waste policy and legislation have great influence on the handling and disposal procedures. An improved e-waste management practice has been proposed to encourage eco-friendly and safe e-waste disposal. It is recommended that regulatory agencies and manufacturers should create a road map to convince the informal sector to develop a systematic approach towards a more standardized formal e-waste management practices at the microscale field level
Microbial fuel cell: a green eco-friendly agent for tannery wastewater treatment and simultaneous bioelectricity/power generation
Get PDFThis review paper emphasised on the origin of hexavalent chromium toxicity in tannery wastewater and its remediation using novel Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology, including electroactive bacteria which are known as exoelectrogens, to simultaneously treat wastewater and its action in the production of bioenergy and the mechanism of Cr6+ reduction. Also, there are various parameters like electrode, pH, mode of operation, time of operation, and type of exchange membrane used for promising results shown in enhancing MFC production and remediation of Cr6+. Destructive anthropological activities such as leather making and electroplating industries are key sources of hexavalent chromium contamination in aquatic repositories. When Cr6+ enters the food chain and enters the human body, it has the potential to cause cancer. MFC is a green innovation that generates energy economically through the reduction of toxic Cr6+ to less toxic Cr3+. The organic substrates utilized at the anode of MFC act as electrons (e−) donors. This review also highlighted the utilization of cheap substrates to make MFCs more economically suitable and the energy production at minimum cost
Cooperative conflict detection and resolution and safety assessment for 6G enabled unmanned aerial vehicles
No full textThe increasing number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the low-altitude airspace and the increasing complexity of the work environment present new challenges for ensuring airspace security, especially the effective conflict detection and resolution (CD&R) of UAVs. In the era of the sixth generation (6G) technology, there is an improvement in communication speed and capacity in comparison with the traditional communication technologies, which contributes to forming a UAV Internet of Things (IoTs) through remote intelligent control platform and improve the effect of CD&R. In this paper, we innovatively develop a cooperative CD&R method in the UAV IoT environment considering UAV relative motion relationships and UAV priorities. Using this method in 6G environment, the real-time and reactive conflict-free paths for UAVs can be generated. The developed method has the advantage of smaller calculation and needs fewer UAVs to take maneuvers than the CD&R methods based on traditional Artificial Potential Field (APF). To verify the effectiveness of CD&R methods, a safety assessment method (evaluate from both conflict feature and network structure perspectives) is also proposed. A Monte Carlo Simulation with ``clone mechanism'' is designed to incorporate the effect of CD&R systems. Three cases of distributed CD&R protocols are simulated and compared. The simulations with different parameter settings are also discussed. Quantitative simulation experiments show that the safety effect of CD&R proposed in this paper is improved a lot due to the improved APF and the UAV priority determination. Meanwhile, the safety assessment method is demonstrated to be feasible for evaluating the safety of CD&R systems
Startup ventures and equity finance: How do Business Accelerators and Business Angels' assess the human capital of socio-environmental mission led entrepreneurs?
Get PDFWe investigate the role of entrepreneurs’ human capital on the potential of newly created ventures to receive equity funding from Accelerators and Business Angels using a resource-based approach to entrepreneurship theory. Using data from 10,563 for-profit innovative ventures, we find significant differences between those two groups. More specifically, formal education and founding experience of the entrepreneurial team is positively associated with the likelihood of the team to receive equity from Angels but negatively associated with the likelihood of the team to receive equity from Accelerators. Overall, our results are in line with the theoretical argument that human capital signals are important in reducing the information asymmetries faced by angels and ultimately driving entrepreneurs’ success in securing angel funding, but our results also suggest that some aspects of human capital signals do not contribute to the entrepreneur’s success in receiving accelerator funding. Our findings have important repercussions for the quality of design and operation of both private and state supported programmes and accelerator manager
Flower pollination algorithm with pollinator attraction
Get PDFThe Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA) is a highly efficient optimization algorithm that is inspired by the evolution process of flowering plants. In the present study, a modified version of FPA is proposed accounting for an additional feature of flower pollination in nature that is the so-called pollinator attraction. Pollinator attraction represents the natural tendency of flower species to evolve in order to attract pollinators by using their colour, shape and scent as well as nutritious rewards. To reflect this evolution mechanism, the proposed FPA variant with Pollinator Attraction (FPAPA) provides fitter flowers of the population with higher probabilities of achieving pollen transfer via biotic pollination than other flowers. FPAPA is tested against a set of 28 benchmark mathematical functions, defined in IEEE-CEC’13 for real-parameter single-objective optimization problems, as well as structural optimization problems. Numerical experiments show that the modified FPA represents a statistically significant improvement upon the original FPA and that it can outperform other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms offering better and more robust optimal solutions. Additional research is suggested to combine FPAPA with other modified and hybridized versions of FPA to further increase its performance in challenging optimization problems
Being my true self: An existential phenomenological inquiry into how transition influences identity in trans men
Get PDFThe number of trans people presenting for referral to Gender Identity Clinics has increased in recent years, with wait times standing at up to four years from the point of referral. Options for those waiting to be seen, who may also be experiencing mental distress, gender dysphoria and related anxiety and depression, include self-medication and counselling. There has been little research into the lived experience of trans male gender transition, specifically in the area of identity and the self. This research investigated how transition influences identity in trans men. Van Manen’s phenomenological hermeneutic methodology was chosen, and four participants recruited. Five themes were identified, revealing pre-transition experiences of dissonance, invisibility, self-hate and distress, as participants’ innate sense of identity was gradually subsumed by external expectations to conform to gender binary norms. In all cases, participants reached a point of crisis where hiding their true selves became no longer possible. Through transition, participants achieved alignment with their authentic selves, slowly integrating all aspects of identity; the inner, the physical and the social
Natural based products for cleaning copper and copper alloys artefacts
Get PDFCopper alloys objects can deteriorate their conservation state through irreversible corrosion. Since in the cultural heritage field every artefact is unique and any loss irreplaceable, solutions for conservation are needed. Hence, there is the necessity to stop the corrosion process with a suitable cleaning and conservation process to avoid further degradation processes without changing its morphological aspect. Chelating solutions are commonly used in chemical cleaning, mainly sodium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). However, it is resistant to water purification procedures and is not biodegradable. The goal of this study was to see if applying an ecologically friendly chelating agent as an alternative to EDTA cleaning procedures for cultural heritage was suitable. In this study were chosen six natural-based chelators that could be a new green non-toxic alternative to EDTA in corrosion-inhibiting properties. They were tested for cleaning copper artefacts exposed to atmospheric environment in polluted areas. The study considered four amino acids, a glucoheptonate (CSA) and an industrial green chelator (GLDA). The effectiveness was tested on corrosion copper compounds and on laboratory corroded copper sheets. Finally, the cleaning efficacy was tested on four Roman coins and a modern copper painting. To define the cleaning efficacy, surface analytical investigations have been carried out by means ICP-OES, UV-VIS, µ-Raman, spectro-colorimetry, XRD and FTIR. Among the amino acids, alanine was the most effective, showing an unaltered noble patina and a good effective copper recovery from corrosion patinas