bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation between internet financial information disclosure and internal control in Spanish local governments
Authors: Moreno-Enguix María del Rocío , Gras-Gil Ester , Henández-Fernández Joaquín
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The application of new public governance by many countries has led to the creation of new management systems in public administration and the development of an effective accounting structure with efficient internal control to guarantee a proper provision of services that meet citizens’ requirements. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Spanish local government with the intention of determining the impact of the internal control structure on the disclosure of financial information on the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis used combines a descriptive aspect with an explanatory one and seeks to answer the question of whether the internal control system (ICS) influences the disclosure of financial information on the websites of Spanish LGs. The authors use a multivariate model that allows us to verify the predictive capability of the previously defined explanatory variable, internal control, in 1,806 local governments. To test the hypotheses, the authors use two different models.

Findings

The authors consider the existence and quality of the financial information disclosure in relation to ICSs, and a series of financial and non-financial variables. The authors conclude that the structure of the ICS influences financial information disclosure and its quality. Also, the socio-political variable gives a better explanation of financial information disclosure than the financial variable.

Originality/value

This research is novel to determine whether the development of ICSs in Spanish municipalities has favored and increased the disclosure of financial information financial through the municipalities’ website transparency portal. These findings will contribute to increase the importance of internal control in the management of public entities.
Low carbon supplier development
Authors: Jharkharia Sanjay , Das Chiranjit
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical model for low carbon supplier development. This study is focused on the level of investment and collaboration decisions pertaining to emission reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ model includes a fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm and a fuzzy formal concept analysis. First, a set of suppliers were classified according to their carbon performances through the FCM clustering algorithm. Then, the fuzzy formal concepts were derived from a set of fuzzy formal contexts through an intersection-based method. These fuzzy formal concepts provide the relative level of investments and collaboration decisions for each identified supplier cluster. A case from the Indian renewable energy sector was used for illustration of the proposed analytical model.

Findings

The proposed model and case illustration may help manufacturing firms to collaborate with their suppliers for improving their carbon performances.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the low carbon supply chain management literature by identifying the decision criteria of investments toward low carbon supplier development. It also provides an analytical model of collaboration for low carbon supplier development. Though the purpose of the study is to illustrate the proposed analytical model, it would have been better if the model was empirically validated.

Originality/value

Though the earlier studies on green supplier development program evaluation have considered a set of criteria to decide whether or not to invest on suppliers, these are silent on the relative level of investment required for a given set of suppliers. This study aims to fulfill this gap by providing an analytical model that will help a manufacturing firm to invest and collaborate with its suppliers for improving their carbon performance.
An investigation of the post-privatization firms’ financial performance in Nigeria: the role of corporate governance practices
Authors: Usman Ojonugwa , Yakubu Umoru Adejo
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of corporate governance practices on the post-privatization financial performance of the firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the period 2005-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a two-step dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation technique for 27 privatized firms by considering a wide range of controlled variables such as managerial shareholdings, board composition, debt financing and stock market development.

Findings

The empirical result suggests that the improvement in the firms’ financial performance is attributed to good corporate governance practices through effective board composition, debt financing (leverage) and stock market development. The result further shows no substantial evidence to support that managerial shareholding improves firms’ financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

Therefore, based on the empirical findings of this study, the authors recommend that the firms need to maintain the optimum board composition and the ratio of debt to share capital as well as developing the stock market to function effectively.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature in several ways: (1) the first time that the role of corporate governance is considered in explaining the post-privatization financial performance of firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; (2) the paper applies a two-step dynamic system GMM estimation technique, proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and Blundell and Bond (1998) to control for the serial correlation and heterogeneity, which remain the major weaknesses of the panel data modeling in the literature.
An economic theory of Islamic finance
Authors: Al-Jarhi Mabid Ali
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an economic rationale for Islamic finance.

Design/methodology/approach

Its methodology is simple. It starts with listing the contributions to economic analysis relevant to the required rationale in the theories of banking, finance, price, money and macroeconomics, to identify the main rationale for Islamic finance. A concise description of the author’s model for an Islamic economic system, within which Islamic finance can be operational, is provided.

Findings

The paper finds distinct advantages of Islamic finance, when properly applied within the author’s model. Islamic finance can therefore be a candidate as a reform agenda for conventional finance. It opens the door for significant monetary reform in currently prevalent economic systems.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation of the paper is that the distinct benefits of Islamic finance are all of macroeconomic types which are external to Islamic banking and finance institutions. They are therefore not expected to motivate such institutions to apply Islamic finance to the letter, without regulators interference to ensure strict application. The second limitation is the necessity to set up enabling institutional and regulatory arrangements for Islamic finance.

Originality/value

The results are unique as they challenge the received doctrine and provide non-religious rationale for Islamic finance.
Corporate demand for general takāful in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Mokhtar Hamim Syahrum , Abdul Aziz Izwayu , Md Hilal Noraziyah
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This study on corporate demand for general takāful (Islamic insurance) aims to identify potential growth areas and areas for improvement in takāful business practices in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey on corporates’ protection needs, takāful/insurance coverage obtained and awareness on takāful/insurance was conducted for this paper.

Findings

The findings from the survey are as follows: There is potential for takāful operators to further penetrate the corporate sector, as the majority of respondents indicated willingness to spend on takāful/insurance. Emphasis on takāful value propositions apart from its Sharīʿah compliance status is needed to attract corporates, as respondents were found to be indifferent on Sharīʿah compliance status of their protection. Strong market presence, expanded product offerings and efficient services were key determinants to attract takāful subscription. Respondents’ heavy reliance on intermediaries warrants strong collaboration with intermediaries to widen market outreach. The small and medium enterprises segment appeared promising, as it is found to be underserved despite having higher propensity to obtain takāful/insurance coverage compared to the overall respondents.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to Malaysia’s experience. The findings are indicative (though they may not be conclusive) of the target segment as well as the takāful industry as a whole.

Originality/value

The insights on respondents’ considerations when obtaining takāful/insurance coverage and the correlation of these factors with respondents’ characteristics can assist takāful/insurance providers in structuring products and business strategies to better serve this market segment. The paper may also aid discussions among researchers and regulators on areas for further development of the industry.
Strategies for improving the competitiveness of Korean seafood companies in the overseas halal food market
Authors: Bashir Khawaja Muhammad Imran , Kim Jin-Soo , Mohibbullah Md , Sohn Jae Hak , Choi Jae-Suk
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the current and future status of overseas halal food marketing and develops strategies for improving the competitiveness of Korean seafood companies in the global halal food market.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a case study approach and a semi-structured review of previously published data. Evidence collected from literature reviews, supported by research studies, anecdotal proof, personal reflection and experience is also used. It also considers the perspectives of various stakeholder groups in the global halal food supply chain.

Findings

The global halal food market is forecasted to reach US$1.914tn in 2021. At present, Korea holds a small share of this market. To enter the emerging Islamic market, there is a need to develop strategies. This study recommends the following main strategies to improve the competitiveness of Korean seafood companies in the halal food market: reduce mistrust by improving halal authentication and certification standards; understand consumer behavior and develop marketing strategies according to the respective country’s socioeconomic and geographic status; train industry employees and develop competitive halal seafood products; exploit the rising global influence of Hanryu; establish a halal logistics/supply chain and halal industrial parks; and promote digital marketing and tourism. Moreover, the government should also subsidize halal seafood development, as well as provide export and international trade insurances.

Originality/value

As the Muslim population continues to grow, the importance of global halal food marketing also increases. Therefore, strategies for improving the competitiveness of Korean seafood companies in the global halal food market need to be taken into account.
Understanding the incremental nature of e-procurement implementation at the state and local levels
Authors: MacManus Susan A.
Published: December 2018

Government’s e-procurement system has not caught on as rapidly as has e-Bay! This article examines the slow implementation rate of public e-procurement systems. It challenges the notion that efficiency gains alone can entice governments to leave traditional procurement systems and principles behind. Four traditional procurement principles are reexamined to see whether they are deterrents to e-commerce: (1) low bid wins and that’s a must; (2) separation between the vendor and user is desirable to avoid claims of favoritism; (3) fixed price and fixed term contracts are best for government; and (4) open access is absolutely imperative in all situations. The jury is still out as to whether the new commerce is contingent upon a reformulation of these principles.
Procurement reform in the ghana health sector
Authors: Verhage Rob , van de Gronden Johan , Awanyo Kofi , Boateng Samuel
Published: December 2018

In most countries procurement is undervalued compared to the attention paid to other key areas of Public Sector Reforms. Ghana represents a case in point. Under the health reforms in Ghana, the Ministry of Health and its partners (donors, financing institutions and the private sector) recognized the importance of procurement in its Medium-Term Health Sector Strategy for Ghana 1997 to 2001. With the aid of an external consultant, using a highly participatory approach in the development, training, and the implementation of new structures and procedures, good results have been achieved. Although work is ongoing and important challenges still need to be addressed, the authors argue that the new procurement structures now in place can serve as an example of a standardized support system for health reforms.
Promoting economy: electronic reverse auctions under the ec directives on public procurement
Authors: Soudry Ohad
Published: December 2018

The reverse electronic auction is a new competitive bidding procedure adopted by the recently enacted European Community (EC) directives on public procurement. It is submitted that the electronic reverse auction has the potential to reduce the tension between the European Commission and national policies of procurement, as it can decrease contracting costs, increase transparency and achieve better economic outcomes as a result of increased competition. This paper relies on auction theory in order to support such statements. A comparison between the traditional sealed-bid method and the reverse auction is further provided.
Assessing the management costs of delivering services under alternative institutional arrangements
Authors: Brown Trevor L. , Potoski Matthew
Published: December 2018

In this paper we assess the management costs of delivering services under alternative institutional arrangements. We develop an analytic framework based on transaction cost and public sector network theories to identify management costs public managers face in delivering services directly and via contract. Results from a survey of refuse collection managers in Ohio indicate that direct service provision carries higher management costs, though when combined with vendors’ activities, contracting carries more monitoring costs. These results suggest two important contributions to knowledge and contract management practice. First, we develop an innovative approach to assessing management costs. Second, we use our framework to determine whether there are differences in management costs under alternative institutional arrangements that managers should take into account as they approach the “make or buy” decision.
The future of small businesses in the U.S. federal government marketplace
Authors: Clark Major , Moutray Chad
Published: December 2018

The federal government purchased goods and services valued at approximately $100 billion from small businesses in FY 2003, which was up from previous years. Moreover, in FY 2003, the federal government exceeded its small business contracting goal of 23 percent. Despite such achievements, implementation of the acquisition reforms enacted in the 1990s has limited small businesses’ access to the federal procurement market. Federal agencies have, for instance, not met their goals for women, minorities, or veterans, and contract bundling and purchase cards may restrict small business opportunities. Meanwhile, both judicial actions and a reduction in the number of acquisition workers complicate matters. This paper discusses each of these issues and offers five recommendations that, if fully implemented, should ensure a brighter future for small businesses in the federal government marketplace.
Cookies for the real world: assessing the potential of rfid for contractor monitoring
Authors: Dew Nicholas
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this paper is to draw together in one place knowledge that is relevant to the possible role of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) in contractor monitoring. The paper uses multiple case studies and internet survey methods to explore several issues in RFIDenabled monitoring of contractors. It also offers some conceptual frameworks to help decision makers think through ways RFID might emerge as a contractor monitoring technology as well as some of the key reasons for using this mechanism of monitoring. The paper concludes with research challenges and key issues for practitioners.
Bridging the divide - commercial procurement and supply chain management: are there lessons for health care commissioning in england?
Authors: Ann Allen Barbara , Wade Elizabeth , Dickinson Helen
Published: December 2018

Current English health policy is focused on strengthening the ‘demand-side’ of the health care system. Recent reforms are designed to significantly enhance the capability and status of the organisations responsible for commissioning health care services and, in so doing, to address some of the perceived problems of a historically provider/supplierled health system. In this context, commissioning organisations are being encouraged to draw on concepts and processes derived from commercial procurement and supply chain management (SCM) as they develop their expertise. While the application of such principles in the health sector is not new, existing work in the UK has not often considered the role of health care purchasers in the management of health service supply-chains. This paper describes the status of commissioning in the NHS, briefly reviews the procurement and SCM literature and begins to explore the links between them. It lays the foundations for further work which will test the extent to which lessons can be extracted in principle from the procurement literature and applied in practice by health care commissioners.
Public vs. private sector perspectives on supply chain management
Authors: Larson Paul D.
Published: December 2018

The literature suggests public procurement professionals have different perspectives on supply chain management (SCM) vis-à-vis their private sector counterparts. Based on a recent survey of Canadian purchasers, this paper presents an empirical comparison of public vs. private views on SCM. The questionnaire is structured around a set of 54 topics, tools and techniques; along with four perspectives on the relationship between purchasing and SCM. Important findings from this survey of SCM professionals include: (1) public procurement professionals have narrow perspectives on SCM compared to their private sector counterparts; and (2) public sector professionals have different perceptions regarding the importance of topics, tools and techniques to support their performance on the job.
Korean free trade agreement negotiations in government procurement: results and policy suggestions
Authors: Yang Junsok
Published: December 2018

The government procurement market is one of the few markets where substantial trade barriers still exist. Many countries, including Korea, have been trying to reduce these market barriers through the World trade Organization (WTO) plurilateral government procurement agreement (GPA) and foreign trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The actual results have been somewhat disappointing. This paper argues that one factor behind the disappointing results may be Korea’s negotiating text, heavily influenced by the GPA, that includes several provisions which may hinder efficiency and add to procurement costs. The paper offers a policy option for Korean FTA negotiators - a “half track” approach where Korea can offer mutual national treatment to the suppliers of the FTA partner with no (or very little) additional procedural or transparency requirements such as those associated with the GPA -type provisions.
Public procurement as an industrial policy tool: An option for developing countries?
Authors: Kattel Rainer , Lember Veiko
Published: December 2018

This article sets out to answer two interrelated questions: is it advisable for developing countries to use public procurement efforts for development, and should more developing countries join the World Trade Organization (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)? We survey key arguments for and against joining the GPA, and argue that government procurement should not be seen only as an indirect support measure for development, but also as a direct vehicle for promoting innovation and industries and, thus, growth and development. We also show that using public procurement for development assumes high levels of policy capacity, which most developing countries lack. In addition, we show how the GPA as well as other WTO agreements make it complicated for the developing countries to benefit from public procurement for innovation. The article suggests that the developing countries could apply a mix of direct and indirect (so-called soft) public-procurement-for-innovation measures. In order to do this, developing countries need to develop the policy capacity to take advantage of the complex and multi-layered industrial policy space still available under WTO rules.
Economic and political determinants of public procurement corruption in developing countries: An empirical study from uganda
Authors: Basheka Benon C.
Published: December 2018

This paper examines the economic and political determinants of public procurement corruption in Uganda. Using data from 548 respondents in the public, private and NGO sectors of Uganda, the paper identifies critical economic and political determinants of public procurement corruption in Uganda. All over the world, the attention of policy makers, academics, development partners, the general public, civil society organizations and politicians has been drawn to the negative effects of corruption on development and the delivery of effective services. Corruption; a phenomenon as old as man himself (Shabbir & Anwar, 2007) has recently risen to the top of the development agenda, particularly in the developing economies. It is this recognition that leads to investigation of why corruption exists and what makes it so differently widespread among countries (Serra, 2004). Unlike in the past where corruption research was the preserve of economists and political scientists, today other disciplines like public procurement have significant interest. This paper compares the emergent results with local and international literature. It presents a number of theoretical and managerial implications for addressing the “disastrous monster” of procurement corruption in the context of the developing world.
Early contractor involvement in dutch infrastructure development: Initial experiences with parallel procedures for planning and procurement
Authors: Lenferink Sander , Arts Jos , Tillema Taede , van Valkenburg Marcelle , Nijsten Roel
Published: December 2018

Traditionally, in the Netherlands, the procurement procedure for infrastructure does not start until the public decision-making procedure is fully completed. In the new procurement strategy, early contractor involvement is applied by carrying out the procurement procedure and the public planning procedure simultaneously. This article explores the first experiences and lessons learned with early contractor involvement in four Dutch infrastructure projects. It can be concluded that the new strategy adds value in terms of time gains, improved project control and more innovative solutions. However, to optimize early contractor involvement, the differences between the competitive procurement procedures and the open, cooperative public planning procedures need to be bridged.
Combinatorial auctions in public procurement: Experiences from sweden
Authors: Lunander Anders , Lundberg Sofia
Published: December 2018

Combinatorial procurement auctions are increasingly being employed in the private and public sector as an alternative to simultaneous single contract auctions. This mechanism has the advantage that it enables suppliers to express synergies across bundles of public contracts. This mitigates the exposure problem and also has the potential to both lower the price paid by the procuring authority and to enhance efficiency. This paper provides stylized facts of recently performed combinatorial public procurements in various markets in Sweden.
Supply management concepts in local government: Four case studies
Authors: Gianakis Gerasimos , McCue Clifford
Published: December 2018

The purpose of the article is to examine the factors that either foster or impede adoption of supply-chain management processes by public sector organizations, as well as to identify the potential benefits that can be achieved by local governments through the use of the supply chain framework. Case study findings suggest that in order for supply chain management innovation to occur in the public sector a number of factors must be addressed, including the willingness to invest in information technology; identifying opportunities for procurement to transition from a control to a support function; seeking to partner organizational expertise with vendor expertise; the ability to identify crucial supplies and strategic issues that add value to the organization; and to innovate incrementally. Results suggest that the adoption of a supply chain perspective can yield innovative procurement techniques.
Size and structure in the purchasing function: Evidence from German municipalities
Authors: Glock Christoph H. , Broens Michael G.
Published: December 2018

This paper analyzes how German municipalities organize their purchasing activities. It aims to identify patterns in the structure of the purchasing function and to study how the size of the municipality influences the design of its purchasing organization. Therefore, an analytical framework based on contingency and organization theory is developed and results of an empirical study are presented. The results indicate that German municipalities use a medium level of centralization and specialization in organizing their purchasing activities, but that the purchasing process is highly formalized and represented on high hierarchical levels in many cases. As to the relationship between the size of a municipality and the structure of its purchasing function, the study indicates that size, measured by the number of inhabitants, the number of employees and purchasing volume influences the structural variables in various ways.
What are the challenges to sustainable procurement in commercial semi-state bodies in ireland?
Authors: Gormly Joey
Published: December 2018

It is unclear as to what extent sustainable procurement is being practised in Ireland and what barriers there are to implementing it in organisations. This study provides the first complete insight into the use of sustainable procurement in Irish commercial semi-state bodies. It explores the extent and type of use of sustainable procurement plus identifies and examines the challenges to its use. A deductive approach is utilised to determine the barriers. Eleven participants, nine from the commercial semistate bodies and two experts with knowledge of this subject, are interviewed using semi-structured questions. The research findings show that sustainable procurement is being practised in the majority of the commercial semi-state bodies. Definition of sustainable procurement, the absence of mandatory guidelines, cost, time and a dearth of sustainable procurement knowledge by suppliers are some of the main barriers put forward by participants.
Seven years of U.S. defense acquisition research: Analysis of proposals and projects
Authors: L. Shaffer Karey , F. Snider Keith
Published: December 2018

In 2006, the U.S. Defense Acquisition Executive approved a program at the Naval Postgraduate School to solicit, evaluate, and fund proposals for innovative and scholarly acquisition research. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of proposals from 2007 to the present. It seeks to provide an understanding of the types and sources of research proposals, and the extent to which the programʼs goal has been achieved. Cluster and trend analyses classify and examine the data according to several key aspects, such as: topical area (e.g., contracting, logistics); research type (e.g., exploratory, hypothesis testing); research design (e.g., case study, experiment); and type of analysis (e.g., comparative, statistical). The results show positive trends, but the number of institutions with interest in defense acquisition remains low, suggesting that it remains a limited niche research topic.
Looking beyond accession: Challenges to implementing the world trade organization government procurement agreement in china
Authors: Cook Daniel J.
Published: December 2018

Much of the literature on China's ongoing attempts to accede to the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) Agreement on Government Procurement (“GPA”) focuses on which Chinese entities will ultimately be covered by the Agreement. While coverage issues are, no doubt, important, this paper argues that China will face an even greater number of challenges when implementing and harmonizing the requirements of the GPA with its own domestic procurement laws. In particular, the GPA's Article XVIII requirement for an effective domestic review mechanism may be especially difficult for China to achieve. In light of these challenges, this paper argues that current GPA members should address problems with China's domestic legal framework for procurement now, not look to the domestic review device to resolve problems after accession.
Characteristics Of private markets and accessibility of small and medium enterprises to public procurement markets: Pharmaceuticals in egypt
Authors: Abdellatif Lobna , Zaky Mohamed
Published: December 2018

The current paper explores the effect of private market characteristics on the access of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to public markets in some sectors. Using survey data of small and medium enterprises in the pharmaceutical sector in Egypt, we confirmed this effect. We found that regulations of drugs pricing and registration in the private market constrained the capacity of those firms to compete in the public markets. However, some other factors play it the other way. The policy implications of these findings indicate that governments need to account for private markets characteristics when designing support packages for smaller enterprises in public procurement markets.
Overcoming the barriers to green procurement in the county: Interest groups and administrative professionalism
Authors: Smith Christy , Terman Jessica
Published: December 2018

Scholars and practitioners have come to understand the important role of local governments in the causes and effects of climate change. The literature has examined both the substantive and symbolic determinants of urban sustainability policies in addition to the implementation issues associated with those policies. At the heart of these policies is the idea that local governments have the desire and ability to engage in socially and environmentally responsible practices to mitigate climate change. While important, these studies are missing a key component in the investigation of local government involvement in sustainability policies: government purchasing power. This study examines the effect of administrative professionalism and interest group presence on the determinants of green procurement in the understudied context of counties in the United States.
Elements of public procurement reform and their effect on the public sector in lac
Authors: Harper Leslie Elizabeth , Ramirez Ana Cristina Calderon , Ayala Jorge Enrique Muñoz
Published: December 2018

Between 2007 and 2013, public procurement systems in Latin America and the Caribbean underwent a critical reform process. However, not much is known about the elements of reform and their effect on the public sector. In order to assess this gap in knowledge, this study used an institutional evaluation multivariate tool developed and carried out by the Inter-American Development Bank called PRODEV. Based on a sample panel of countries, effects on the development of public procurement systems were calculated. The results indicated that, of the three main areas of procurement reform evaluated, the creation of a procurement agency2 had the largest impact. At the same time, evidence was found that backed the hypothesis that creating these agencies had a positive effect on the perception of public sector performance.
Comparing attitudes of public servants and outsourced employees
Authors: Oliveira Lucia B. , Costa Elson Mário Toja Couto Monteiro da
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intention of professors, technical-administrative servants and outsourced workers of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted analyses of variance, with the multiple comparisons made using Tukey’s post hoc tests, as well as regression analyses. The sample of 297 workers included 115 faculty members, 86 technical-administrative servants and 96 outsourced employees.

Findings

The results showed that the job satisfaction of outsourced workers was significantly higher than that of the public servants. On the other hand, professors presented the highest level of affective commitment, significantly higher than technical-administrative employees and outsourced workers. Turnover intention of outsourced workers was lower than that of technical-administrative employees, despite the stability of the latter group.

Practical implications

From a practical standpoint, the results may guide the development human resource management policies and practices aligned with the reality and the needs of public servants and outsourced employees, thus fostering their job satisfaction, commitment and retention.

Originality/value

This study is relevant given the increased use of outsourced labor in the public administration and the relative paucity of empirical studies with this group of workers, as evidenced by the review of the national literature. Moreover, as the theme of outsourcing is quite controversial, the authors hope this new evidence contributes to the debate.
Understanding blockchain technology for future supply chains: a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Wang Yingli , Han Jeong Hugh , Beynon-Davies Paul
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the way in which blockchain technology is likely to influence future supply chain practices and policies.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of both academic and practitioner literature was conducted. Multiple accounts of blockchain adoption within industry were also consulted to gain further insight.

Findings

While blockchain technologies remain in their infancy, they are gaining momentum within supply chains, trust being the predominant factor driving their adoption. The value of such technologies for supply chain management lies in four areas: extended visibility and traceability, supply chain digitalisation and disintermediation, improved data security and smart contracts. Several challenges and gaps in understanding and opportunities for further research are identified by this research. How a blockchain-enabled supply chain should be configured has also been explored from a design perspective.

Research limitations/implications

This systematic review focuses on the diffusion of blockchain technology within supply chains, and great care was taken in selecting search terms. However, the authors acknowledge that their choice of terms may have excluded certain blockchain articles from this review.

Practical implications

This paper offers valuable insight for supply chain practitioners into how blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt existing supply chain provisions as well as a number of challenges to its successful diffusion.

Social implications

The paper debates the poential social and economic impact brought by blockchain.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies to examine the current state of blockchain diffusion within supply chains. It lays a firm foundation for future research.
Reliability and validity of the four‐factor model of parental alienation
Authors: J. L. Baker Amy
Published: December 2018

According to the four‐factor model of parental alienation, in order for alienation to be present there must be: (1) a prior positive relationship between the child and the now rejected parent; (2) absence of maltreatment by the rejected parent; (3) use of alienating behaviours by the favoured parent; and (4) presence of behavioural manifestations of alienation in the child. The purpose of the current study was to determine the reliability and validity of the four‐factor model as a model of parental alienation. The study tested the reliability and validity of the four‐factor model by having mental health professionals code vignettes representing a combination of presence and absence of the factors. Reliability was quite high across the vignettes, coders and factors. There was agreement that when all four factors are present the case is alienation and when one or no factor are present it is not alienation. These data support the four‐factor model and suggest avenues for continuing to study the interplay among the factors deemed relevant by mental health professionals in the field of children’s relationships with their divorced parents.

Practitioner points

The four‐factor model of parental alienation is a framework to ensure that information about all parties is factored into custody assessments

The four‐factor model of parental alienation can be used to differentiate alienated from estranged children

The reliability and validity of the four‐factor model of parental alienation will be relevant for professionals providing expert testimony
Predictive Modeling of the Effect of ε‐Polylysine Hydrochloride on Growth and Thermal Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in Fish Balls
Authors: Jia Zhen , Li Changcheng , Fang Ting , Chen Jinquan
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ε‐polylysine hydrochloride (ε‐PLH) on the growth and thermal inactivation kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in fish balls. Samples, supplemented with ε‐PLH (0, 150, or 300 ppm, w/w), were inoculated with a three‐strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes and incubated at constant temperatures of 3.4, 8, 12, or 16 °C for growth studies, or heated at 60, 62.5, 65, or 67.5 °C for thermal inactivation tests. The growth curves were fitted to the Huang primary model, and the Huang and Ratkowsky square‐root models (SRM) were used as the secondary models to evaluate the effect of temperature on bacterial growth. The survival during heating was analyzed with a log‐linear model. The results showed that, while the lag time of L. monocytogenes was affected by both ε‐PLH concentration and temperature, the specific growth rate was unaffected by ε‐PLH. Under the same temperature, a 10‐time in increase of the lag time would be expected for every 565 ppm in the increase of ε‐PLH concentration. Using the Ratkowsky SRM, the estimated nominal minimum growth temperature was –2.04 °C, while the minimum growth temperature was 0.29 °C when estimated with the Huang SRM. Validation at 10 °C showed that the Huang primary model, in combination with either the Huang or Ratkowsky SRM, could accurately predict the growth of L. monocytogenes. On the other hand, the thermal resistance of the pathogen was significantly reduced by increase in temperature or ε‐PLH. The thermal z value of L. monocytogenes was 5.78 °C, and the ε‐PLH z value was 1642 ppm. The results of this study showed that the combined application of ε‐PLH and temperature can be used to control L. monocytogenes in fish balls and to improve food safety and reduce risks to public health.
A Review of Water Quality Responses to Air Temperature and Precipitation Changes 1: Flow, Water Temperature, Saltwater Intrusion
Authors: Paul Michael J. , Coffey Rory , Stamp Jen , Johnson Thomas
Published: December 2018

Anticipated future increases in air temperature and regionally variable changes in precipitation will have direct and cascading effects on United States (U.S.) water quality. In this paper, and a companion paper by Coffey et al., we review technical literature addressing the responses of different water quality attributes to historical and potential future changes in air temperature and precipitation. The goal is to document how different attributes of water quality are sensitive to these drivers, to characterize future risk to inform management responses, and to identify research needs to fill gaps in our understanding. Here we focus on potential changes in streamflow, water temperature, and salt water intrusion (SWI). Projected changes in the volume and timing of streamflow vary regionally, with general increases in northern and eastern regions of the U.S., and decreases in the southern Plains, interior Southwest, and parts of the Southeast. Water temperatures have increased throughout the U.S. and are expected to continue to increase in the future, with the greatest changes in locations where high summer air temperatures occur together with low streamflow volumes. In coastal areas, especially the mid‐Atlantic and Gulf coasts, SWI to rivers and aquifers could be exacerbated by sea level rise, storm surges, and altered freshwater runoff. Management responses for reducing risks to water quality should consider strategies and practices robust to a range of potential future conditions.
SENATORIAL EPISTOLOGRAPHY FROM CICERO TO SIDONIUS: EMERGENCE OF A GENRE
Authors: WHITE PETER
Published: December 2018

Although Cicero's letter collections were known and read throughout antiquity, traces of his influence on the style of later letter writers and on the organization of their epistolary collections seem to diminish steadily. What remains constant in the extant collections of Cicero, Pliny, Fronto, Symmachus, and Sidonius is the large number of correspondents represented, the preponderance of letters from the period of the writer's highest prestige, and the subject matter of the letters published, which highlights the familial and wider social connections of the writers and their political, financial, and literary interests. All five collections project the ethos and values of a senatorial class.
Effects of forest fragmentation on community patterns of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Central Amazon
Authors: Graça Márlon Breno , Somavilla Alexandre
Published: December 2018

Landscape fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to environments globally, affecting all living organisms within fragments at many assembly levels. Despite such general assumptions, very few reports exist on the diversity patterns of Amazonian social wasps (Polistinae) in response to fragmentation. Our study aims at addressing how the community patterns of social wasp change from continuous to fragmented landscapes in the Amazon rainforest. We collected social wasps for a year (11 520 trap‐hour effort) in a continuous forest and a highly disturbed urban forest fragment, located in Manaus, Brazil. We attracted wasps using sardine and orange juice traps, placed in 20 sampling plots. We collected 2742 wasps from 29 species. Agelaia pallipes, Angiopolybia pallens and Agelaia fulvofasciata were the most abundant species. We detected significant differences in overall abundance, species richness and species composition of social wasps between landscapes. Conversely, no difference in species diversity (effective number of species) was found between habitats. Despite the low quantity of exclusive species, the numbers of most species declined sharply in the fragmented habitat, while for one species (Polybia rejecta), abundance increased. Regarding the percentile of species contribution to dissimilarity between landscapes, five out of the first six species were highly abundant (>100 individuals), thus demonstrating that the observed pattern was very likely driven by common species. Additionally, our findings highlight that fragmentation threatens abundant species as much as rare species. We hope that our results encourage the use of social wasps as models in basic and applied ecological surveys and further efforts for conservation of pristine forest areas in the tropical region of South America.
The influence of weather conditions on dairy production
Authors: Perez‐Mendez Jose A. , Roibas David , Wall Alan
Published: December 2018

Relatively little attention has been paid in the economics literature to the effects of meteorological conditions on milk production. Meteorological variables can be expected to affect milk production through their impact on the productivity of cows and the production of foodstuff. Rather than including meteorological variables as inputs in the milk production process, we propose a production function where these variables affect the productivity of cows and the production of forage, thereby indirectly affecting milk production. Using production and meteorological data from the Spanish region of Asturias corresponding to 383 dairy farms observed during a six‐year period from 2006 to 2011, the results from our estimated production function show that meteorological variables have a significant impact on milk production. We find that milk production is higher under warm weather conditions due to improvements in forage production.
Intersections of Insecurity, Nurturing, and Resilience: A Case Study of Turkana Women of Kenya
Authors: Pike Ivy L.
Published: December 2018

In a backdrop of low‐intensity violence, this article examines how Turkana women of northern Kenya work to maintain culturally honed nurturing practices. Often referred to as AK‐47 raids, this violence disrupts even the most basic subsistence tasks. Drawing on case studies and ethnographic interviews, I document how Turkana women reimagine nurturing practices using the “creative resources” at hand. Such resourcefulness includes widows breaking with levirate marriage systems, seeking new forms of support by leaving the pastoral sector to earn income to feed their children, and planting seeds when no one expected success. Further, these acts offer insights into women's resilience by documenting the sociocultural and structural challenges experienced as they reconstitute their lives. With a growing global health emphasis on the importance of early child development, these ethnographically grounded case studies offer insights into the lengths families will go to and the challenges they face to maintain practices of care. [mothering, gender, anthropology of food, conflict, pastoralism, Kenya, East Africa]