bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Application of Crop Growth Simulation Modelling in Pest Management
Authors: Chander Subhash , Kalra Naveen , Aggarwal P.K.
Published: September 2010

Crop growth simulation models based on crop ecological and physiological processes, and coupled with pest damage mechanisms, are useful tools for analysing the interaction of pests with other biophysical components of agroecosystems. The use of simulation models in pest management started with the development of single-species population dynamics models in the late 1960s. Later, population dynamics models for bitrophic interactions between pests and natural enemies were devised. Crop growth simulation models were coupled with pest damage mechanisms in the mid-80s, but the approach was described as a one-way analysis of crop–pest interactions because these models accounted for pest effects on crop growth without the reverse being considered. A two-way approach for crop–pest interactions came into being with the interlinking of pest population dynamics models with crop growth simulation models in the 1990s. Pest management research is required to produce practical tools for developing tactics and strategies for pest management. Simulation models help to produce such tools and decision models. They are used for various applications, such as rationalizing pesticide use, pest risk analysis, pest zonation, analysis of climate change impact on pests, and assessing the effect of transgenic crops on the environment. These models have the potential to play even greater roles in the future.
Nitrogen Dynamics in Forestry and Grassland Soils in the Amazon Region
Authors: do Carmo Janaina Braga , Cerri Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino
Published: September 2010

The main economical land use in the Amazon since the 1970s has been as cattle pastures, which are largely the result of widespread deforestation. Estimates indicate that approximately 120,000 km2 of pastures show some degree of degradation, which will require the opening up of new areas of forest. The authors' conclusions are as follows: (1) The quality of organic matter in the forage grasses modifies N cycling in relation to that originally present in forest soils. (2) In cases where N availability in the soil is not limited to the soil microbiological processes, other soil parameters, such as humidity, start to control N2O fluxes to the atmosphere. (3) Tillage and fertilization induce higher nitrate availability in the short term, but this could be synchronized with plant uptake, which would lead to fewer losses from leaching, plus soil denitrification rates would also decrease and would not support N loss in gaseous form. Any degraded pasture recovery strategy that affects available soil N content will also indirectly influence atmospheric N2O flux. When N availability is not a limitation to soil biological processes, water content changes and other soil properties become important N2O flux controllers. (4) If these conditions are acknowledged, there can be a higher level of sustainability and more effective development of the system and productivity can be achieved.
Computing Careers and Irish Higher Education
Authors: Stephens Simon , O'Donnell David , McCusker Paul
Published: September 2010

This paper explores the impact of developments in the Irish economy and labour market on computing course development in the higher education (HE) sector. Extant computing courses change, or new courses are introduced, in attempts to match labour market demands. The conclusion reached here, however, is that Irish HE is producing insufficient numbers of computing graduates, notwithstanding the anomalous fact that the capacity to produce them is available in the HE sector. Manpower planning is inefficient and IT skill shortages remain, not as a result of poor industry–HE relations but because of a lack of understanding of Irish students' perceptions, preferences and expectations. Pressures for radical institutional change are probably unlikely to emerge as skill gaps are being filled by immigrants with the requisite skills.
Developing a Culture for Entrepreneurship in the East of England
Authors: Abubakar Yazid , Mitra Jay
Published: September 2010

Most UK Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have committed themselves to developing an Enterprise Strategy for their region. This commitment is mainly in response to the current Labour government's keenness to see enterprise and entrepreneurship at the centre of any economic development agenda. Pro-entrepreneurship policies have been embraced as a means of generating economic growth and diversity, ensuring competitive markets, helping the unemployed to create jobs for themselves, countering poverty and welfare dependency, encouraging labour market flexibility and drawing individuals out of informal economic activity. The regional dimension of economic regeneration has been influenced, in part, by increasing interest in the local ramifications of national innovation and entrepreneurship policies, and also by growing awareness of the local or regional phenomenon of enterprise creation and innovation. The authors examine the connection between R&D activities in universities and the creation of new businesses (in particular ICT firms), and especially the role that social capital plays in fostering these relationships or connections. Preliminary empirical analyses suggest the importance of university–high-tech industry social capital in generating technology based start-ups. The findings suggest a case for fostering ‘connectedness’ between research universities and high-technology firms in regions with interest in technology-based entrepreneurship.
The Interrelationships between Entrepreneurship and Religion
Authors: Dodd Sarah Drakopoulou , Gotsis George
Published: September 2010

This article examines the interrelationships between religion and enterprise. The authors find that these are highly context-specific, and will vary markedly over time and social setting, mediated by other socio-cultural variables such as political structures and ideologies, and religious symbolism in the workplace. The individual elements making up an entrepreneur's belief matrix influence the entrepreneurial process. Where religious salience is high, entrepreneurs will tend to use religious criteria to inform their decision making, even if it harms their short-term commercial interests. Religious groups can also provide a resource for the generation of entrepreneurial social capital.
Research Note: World Tourism Forecasting – Keep It Quick, Simple and Dirty
Authors: Smeral Egon
Published: September 2010

Building multivariate causal models for world tourism or world subregions could be very difficult as the necessary short-term information, such as monthly data on the independent variables determining tourism demand, is either not available or very labour and cost intensive to obtain. In order to solve the short-term forecast problem on a global scale, a quasi-causal model was constructed to explain international arrivals. This model was based on a REGARIMA approach, which used as its exogenous variable the flexible trend of the arrivals being explained through the model. The flexible trend was identified by the HP-filter method and indicated in the model important exogenous aggregated information. ARIMA models were developed and ‘absolute no change’ forecast values computed in order to benchmark the forecast accuracy of the REGARIMA model. The study demonstrated that the simple ARIMA approach could not, in general, be outperformed by the more complex quasi-causal REGARIMA approach. Both time series approaches outperformed the ‘absolute no change model’.
Research Note: Modelling Tourism Demand – an Econometric Analysis of North American Tourist Expenditure in Ireland, 1985–2004
Authors: Hanly Paul , Wade Garret
Published: September 2010

The monetary contribution of inbound North American tourism to the Irish exchequer is economically substantial, generating more tourist revenue earnings per capita in Ireland than visitors from any other country. The purpose of this paper is to present a macroeconometric analysis of North American tourist expenditure in Ireland, thus providing an insight into the effects on expenditure patterns of the adjustment of key macroeconomic variables. Using an econometric causal model, key macroeconomic and demographic variables are regressed on real expenditure of the North American, US and Canadian regions. Among the main findings, it is revealed that the real exchange rate variable and the over-45 age cohort exert a positive and statistically significant result in the case of all three regions. The paper acknowledges that appropriate strategies are required to maximize the potential of those subsectors providing the greatest ‘value for entry’ from an Irish tourism perspective to enable the future proliferation of inbound revenues for the tourism industry.
Effectiveness and Efficiency of Managers: Are They Doing What They Can or all They Can?
Authors: Israeli Aviad A.
Published: September 2010

Effectiveness and efficiency are two common terms in management. Effectiveness is generally described as ‘doing the right thing’, and efficiency as ‘doing things right’. This paper investigates the aggregate performance of managers in the Israeli hospitality industry in an effort to identify whether their performance can be categorized as effective, efficient, or both. The findings suggest that instead of being effective and efficient, managers tend to be either effective or efficient. Some explanations for this phenomenon are offered, and the study concludes with recommendations for academics and practitioners.
Estimating the Economic Value and Impacts of Recreational Trails: A Case Study of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail
Authors: Bowker J.M. , Bergstrom John C. , Gill Joshua
Published: September 2010

Many communities are interested in developing and maintaining recreational trails to benefit trail users and as tourist attractions to stimulate economic growth. In this paper, a study is described which estimates the net economic value to trail users and the local economic impacts of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail in south-western Virginia, USA. The monetary valuation results suggest that the trail is a highly valuable asset to the people who enjoy using it and to local businesses who benefit from trail-related tourist expenditures. The integrated valuation methodology and results can facilitate quantification of recreational trail economic benefits in other locations.
Land Use Dynamics, Farmers' Preferences and Policy Implications in the Jinghe Watershed of Remote North-Western China
Authors: Zhen Lin , Xie Gaodi , Yang Li , Cheng Shengkui
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates the dynamics of land use patterns, contributory issues, farmers' preferences and policy implications in the Jinghe watershed of remote north-western China. Landsat™ data (using GIS) and primary data from participatory rural appraisal – a method rarely applied in China – and household surveys using weighted indices were analysed. Proportions of land use and landscape indices were applied to analyse changes in land use patterns. It was found that land use patterns remain relatively stable in the watershed region where arable land and grassland predominate, a situation that has not changed structurally for 10–20 years. In villages, however, structural changes in landscape patterns occurred with transitions from predominantly arable land to forest and grass. High values for dominance and contagion indices were found in counties with relatively simple land use patterns or agricultural land use, while low values for dominance and contagion indices were associated with diversified land use involving agriculture, forest and grassland. Government intervention, market demand, personal considerations and growing environmental concerns are perceived by farmers as major factors leading to land use change. The local people prefer to grow food crops to ensure food security rather than to manage forest and grassland. This calls for a comprehensive natural resource conservation strategy, which should be based on building resource conservation into policy making; institutional reform with local participation; promotion of indigenous technology for resource conservation and management; and population control.
Chile and its Efforts to Present High-Level Technologies to the Developed World
Authors: Young Nathan
Published: September 2010

Chile is rich in natural resources. Like many other resource-dependent nations, it has never made technology transfer a subject of intense focus. This article sheds light on the technological state of Chile today and its efforts to promote development, increase innovation and move towards a knowledge-based economy. The paper summarizes current market realities and barriers, reviews support by Chilean and world agencies alike, and examines innovation statistics and the prospects for improving the number of technologies transferred from the country.
Yield Applied to Destination Management: An Inefficient Analogy?
Authors: Scott Noel , Breakey Noreen
Published: September 2010

This paper reports on a research project that examines the use of yield as a performance indicator for destination management. It reviews the history, definitions and use of yield and yield management in hospitality and transport businesses and then examines how these ideas have been transferred to the literature of tourism destinations. A series of recommendations on usage of the term ‘yield’ are provided.
Analysis of Foreign Tourism Demand for Croatian Destinations: Long-Run Elasticity Estimates
Authors: Mervar Andrea , Payne James E.
Published: September 2010

Given that tourism is a significant source of export revenues for Croatia, it is vital for policymakers to understand the factors affecting foreign tourism demand for Croatian destinations. This study provides long-run elasticity estimates associated with aggregate foreign tourism demand for Croatian destinations in the period 1994:1-2004:4 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. Foreign tourism demand is proxied by the aggregate number of foreign overnight stays in Croatia. The long-run elasticity estimates indicate that tourism demand is positive and highly elastic with respect to the income of tourist-generating countries. Moreover, tourism demand was adversely affected by the political conflicts in the 1990s. The real exchange rate and transportation costs are not statistically significant determinants of foreign tourism demand.
Impact of Tourism Infrastructure on Regional Development: The Implantation of a Center Parcs Resort in Northern France
Authors: Pacaud L. , Vollet D. , Angeon V.
Published: September 2010

This paper assesses the impact of the implantation of a major recreational resort (670 new direct jobs planned) on the local economy of an isolated rural area in northern France. To estimate the induced effects, an original hybrid model combining Keynesian and economic base theory was used to take into account the predominant role of the first wave of spending in the tourism sector. At the local level, this resort has the potential to create between at least 70 and 80 indirect and induced jobs, provided support is lent by synergy in local policymaking (especially in training and habitat).
Research Note: Implications for Regional Destinations of New Airline Strategies
Authors: Morley Clive L.
Published: September 2010

Recent developments in airline strategies have resulted in important changes in both airfares and services offered to tourists. Analyses of the impacts of the latest changes are only now emerging, usually in fairly general terms. The consequences for specific destinations, particularly those that may be a bit outside the norm, have not been considered. This discussion sets out to identify some important changes in the airline industry and to consider their likely impacts on the demand for tourist destinations. The focus is on strategic, that is relatively long-term, developments in the airline industry, rather than short-term or singular effects, such as the impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks (although these can be seen in the examples). The Balearic Islands (Spain) and Adelaide (Australia) are considered as widely differing regional cases in assessing how destinations can be affected by these airline strategic developments.
Yield Measures for Special-Interest Australian Inbound Tourism Markets
Authors: Dwyer Larry , Forsyth Peter , Fredline Liz , Deery Marg , Jago Leo , Lundie Sven
Published: September 2010

Different tourism stakeholders mean different things by ‘yield’ and this presents a barrier to communication and policy discussion. Primarily, this paper provides an overview of different concepts of yield. It also operationalizes several of these measures using inbound tourism expenditure data for Australia so that the origin markets and market segments identified as generating high yields under the various measures can be compared. The paper further identifies the manner in which the concept of yield can be broadened to embrace sustainable yield by incorporating measures of environmental and social impact. It concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the study.
Technology Licensing for the Benefit of the Developing World
Authors: Mimura Carol
Published: September 2010

In the years since the passage of the Bayh–Dole Act of 1980, university technology transfer success has been measured primarily by traditional metrics such as numbers of patents filed, revenue obtained from licensed patents and numbers of start-up companies founded to commercialize university intellectual property. Intellectual property (IP) managers have often responded to these metrics and expectations by attempting to maximize revenue from commercial IP licences. In recent years the University of California at Berkeley has acknowledged that, while licence revenue generation and local economic development are important goals, it is equally important to maximize the social impact of research. It has therefore adopted several IP management strategies, including a Socially Responsible Licensing Program (SRLP). Several types of agreements have been executed under the SRLP, including IP licences, sponsored research agreements and collaborative research agreements. All are structured to provide an economic incentive to licensees to develop and distribute goods and services to low-income and middle-income countries and/or other target groups as they are defined in each contract.
Unexploited Food Production Potentials of New Varieties
Authors: Alene Arega D.
Published: September 2010

The question of whether the intended gains in food production from new varieties have actually been realized by poor farmers has received little or no attention in the literature. This paper used a stochastic frontier efficiency decomposition methodology to derive the technical, allocative and economic efficiency measures for a sample of hybrid maize producers in western Ethiopia. The results revealed considerable underexploitation of the yield and profitability potentials of hybrid maize and indicated that farmers could increase production by an average of 26% if they all adopted the recommended management practices. Furthermore, adoption of the recommended management practices coupled with optimum use of inputs, especially fertilizer, would enable the farmers to reduce production costs by an average of 39%. Education, provision of input credit, and timely availability of critical inputs are positively and significantly related to the efficiency of hybrid maize production.
Microfertilizing Sorghum and Pearl Millet in Mali
Authors: Aune Jens B. , Doumbia Mamadou , Berthe Abou
Published: September 2010

Microfertilizing, consisting of applying small amounts of mineral fertilizer to the planting hole or pocket, was tested in Mali. Yields of sorghum increased by 34% and 52% compared with the control after applying 0.3 g of fertilizer per pocket for the years 2000 and 2001 respectively. For pearl millet, the corresponding yield increase was 48% and 67% for 2001 and 2003 respectively. Higher yield increases were observed when 6 g of fertilizer was applied per pocket than when 0.3 g of fertilizer was applied. The value–cost ratio varied from 3.4 to 11.9 in the 0.3 g treatment, and from 0.43 to 1.17 in the 6 g treatment. Application of 0.3 g of fertilizer appeals to farmers because of the good return on investment, low financial risk, low cash outlay and low workload required.
Classroom Critiques: Transforming Conformity into Creativity
Authors: Owens Keith
Published: September 2010

North American higher education finds itself on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, it accepts droves of freshmen who equate learning with rote memorization and who correlate achievement with the ability to pass narrowly focused standardized tests. On the other hand, it is expected to contribute to the country's cultural and economic vibrancy by graduating engaged citizens and creative professionals. After contextualizing its desirability and the support for its efficacy, this paper discusses how one pedagogical technique - the classroom critique - can help higher education to resolve the discrepancy between the improperly prepared student and the excellence a college education is expected to impart. The author suggests that this neo-Socratic method can not only help to correct previous educational deficiencies but can also nurture the civic and creative skills necessary to a democratic society and required by a competitive business community.
Micro-Firms and the Margins of Entrepreneurship
Authors: Bögenhold Dieter , Fachinger Uwe
Published: September 2010

This paper deals with the margins of entrepreneurship at which small business owners are working almost on their own with no or very few employees, and where some work for low returns and run firms that lack stability and/or prosperous dynamics. However, even the area of ‘entrepreneurship at the margins’ is a wide field, embracing not only the broad margins of entrepreneurship but also the fluid borders between entrepreneurship and the informal sector on the one side and the labour market system on the other. New firms – even those that are ultimately very successful – may be more or less created in an experimental market and product testing phase, in which business founders are still employed or registered as unemployed before becoming self-employed. In such cases, the practical starting-point of an entrepreneurial existence is part of a fluent continuum of different activities closely connected to the entrepreneur's sphere of dependent work as an employee or job-seeking during a period of unemployment. The paper addresses this area of entrepreneurship within an integrated framework, which combines entrepreneurship analysis with labour market research and studies on social stratification and social mobility. It contributes to the debate on entrepreneurship at the margins by combining selected empirical information on the case of Germany with conceptual ideas of a labour market perspective. The integrated approach highlights some key issues and raises further questions about the field of entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship and the Gay Minority
Authors: Galloway Laura
Published: September 2010

This paper provides a review and rationale concerning the importance of researching entrepreneurship amongst those of minority sexual orientation. Based on emerging theories about, and evidence of, entrepreneurship as a heterogeneous phenomenon, the paper explores the potential contribution that studies of minority entrepreneurship can make to the understanding of diversity, as opposed to universality, amongst entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. In the absence of research on gay entrepreneurship specifically, especially in the UK, the author explores reasons for the silence amongst researchers, including some of the main challenges, namely: variable degrees of minority-status disclosure; a corresponding lack of data about the size of the minority; definition issues; and the potential avoidance of the minority by ‘objective’ scholars. A summary of reasons why entrepreneurship might be an attractive prospect for gay people is provided. The paper also argues that research amongst gay entrepreneurs may prove to be valuable in terms of its potential to contribute to economic advantage both for the minority and for the greater society, and ultimately to increase understanding within the entrepreneurship discipline generally.
Subalternity and Entrepreneurship
Authors: Storr Virgil Henry , Butkevich Bridget
Published: September 2010

Entrepreneurs are cultural creatures and culture affects how they conceive their opportunities and how they determine and pursue their interests. Understanding entrepreneurship in any particular context thus requires attention to be paid to prevailing cultural beliefs as well as the formal and informal institutions that affect economic behaviour. This paper adopts the important but seldom used approach of focusing upon the tales of entrepreneurship prevalent in a given culture. The authors argue that to get a sense of the economic culture in a particular context, it is crucial to focus on what a culture's success and failure stories tell about how to get ahead. Arguably, this approach is particularly important if the goal is to understand entrepreneurship amongst subaltern/marginalized groups. Using fiction from the former Soviet bloc, where a one-dimensional form of entrepreneurship flourished even within the command economy, and literature from anglophone Africa and the British Caribbean where black entrepreneurship had to contend with brutal colonial rule and post-colonial corruption, this paper highlights how entrepreneurs were influenced by culture in these contexts, and explores the origins of these cultural factors.
How Fast are Small Tourism Countries Growing? Evidence from the Data for 1980–2003
Authors: Brau Rinaldo , Lanza Alessandro , Pigliaru Francesco
Published: September 2010

This paper analyses the empirical relationship between growth, country size and tourism specialization by using a data set covering the period 1980–2003. It finds that tourism countries are small and grow significantly faster than all the other subgroups considered in the analysis. Tourism appears to be an independent determining factor for growth: controlling for initial per capita income and for trade openness does not weaken the positive correlation between tourism specialization and growth. Another finding of the paper is that small states are fast growing only when they are highly specialized in tourism. In contrast with some previous conclusions in the literature, smallness per se is not good for growth.
Tourism, Capital Good Imports and Economic Growth: Theory and Evidence for Spain
Authors: Nowak Jean-Jacques , Sahli Mondher , Cortés-Jiménez Isabel
Published: September 2010

Exports are generally assumed to promote long-term growth through two main channels. The first, known as the export-led growth (ELG) hypothesis, is by enhancing economy-wide efficiency. This mechanism has recently been applied to tourism services exports (the tourism-led growth, TLG, hypothesis). The second channel is the financing of imports of foreign capital goods, thus raising the level of capital formation. Although this channel turns out to be empirically important, no theoretical rigorous foundation has yet been provided. Moreover, it has never been investigated for tourism exports. This paper fills two gaps. On the theoretical side, it provides a clear justification of the role of capital good imports in the link between exports and overall economic growth. A model has been built to examine this so-called EKIG hypothesis (exports → capital good imports → growth) in which sustained economic growth is achieved by imports of foreign capital entirely financed through inbound tourism. This model highlights a mechanism of international transmission of economic growth from the tourist-generating country (the tourism services importer) to the tourist-receiving economy (the tourism services exporter) through trade and terms-of-trade movement without any technological progress, research and development (R&D) activity or accumulation of human capital in the host economy. On the empirical side, this study constitutes the first attempt to examine the role of tourism exports on economic growth through capital good imports. The authors use Johansen's cointegration approach and the multivariate Granger causality test to analyse the TKIG (tourism → capital good imports → growth) hypothesis in the Spanish economy.
Foreign Investment in Tourism and Small Island Developing States
Authors: Barrowclough Diana
Published: September 2010

This paper presents evidence from a global study of the scale and impact of foreign investment in tourism, highlighting the implications for small island developing states (SIDS). It draws upon findings from a two-year United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) research and policy analysis project based on a global survey of transnational hotel groups with a presence in developing countries and in-depth case studies of domestic and international investment in tourism in twelve countries. The project aimed to provide empirical evidence to help policymaking in developing countries that wish to benefit more from tourism foreign direct investment (FDI). It does not favour foreign investment above domestic investment, but aims simply to provide more information on an aspect which is increasingly a policy priority for developing countries and which is not frequently addressed in empirical terms in the literature.
Learning to Solve a Business Problem: ‘Hands-on’ Can Get Results
Authors: Neeson Robyn , Billington Leo , Barrett Rowena
Published: September 2010

Small business training can facilitate business growth. The authors show that a ‘hands-on’ approach can have a direct impact on a business owner's current situation. They consider this in relation to the problem of being unable to find the right staff, demonstrating that a programme such as the one they describe enables learning and addresses the lack of time and resources faced by many small business owner-managers. Such programmes also accommodate the style, pace and circumstances of the individual learner. This has a number of implications for the delivery of training to small business owner-managers.
Developing the Enterprise Curriculum
Authors: Jones Colin
Published: September 2010

Entrepreneurship education is the process of providing individuals with the ability to recognize commercial opportunities and the insight, self-esteem, knowledge and skills to act on them. It includes instruction in opportunity recognition, commercializing a concept, marshalling resources in the face of risk and initiating a business venture. It also includes instruction in traditional business disciplines such as management, marketing, information systems and finance. This paper describes the design and introduction of a new programme in entrepreneurship at the University of Tasmania. Rather than adopt a traditional business school (passive learning) approach, this programme largely reverses the method and responsibility of learning through the process of student-centred learning. This method of learning represents a challenging departure from traditional mainstream teaching practices. In considering the benefits achievable from this teaching method, the paper also addresses the difficulties involved in transferring increased responsibility to students to manage their futures.
Entrepreneurs as Educators
Authors: Carey Charlotte , Matlay Harry
Published: September 2010

In this article the authors explore the characteristics and nature of entrepreneurship education for the creative disciplines and suggest links with the entrepreneurial traits of creative discipline graduates. Reporting on a combination of specialist literature, case studies of graduates and a ‘snapshot’ analysis of relevant job adverts for academic staff in these disciplines, the authors suggest that there is a great deal to be gained from a better understanding of how those characteristics work and how they can be applied to teaching enterprise in a business school setting. They argue that by their nature courses in the creative disciplines are providing ‘implicit’ as well as ‘explicit’ enterprise education and that the potential application of such implicit components is worthy of further investigation.
Ethnic Minority Graduate Entrepreneurs in the UK
Authors: Hussain Javed , Millman Cindy , Scott Jonathan , Hannon Paul , Matlay Harry
Published: September 2010

Small ethnic minority businesses make an important contribution to the UK economy, and this is reflected in their rapid growth over the last decade. A considerable proportion of the growth in new venture creation can be attributed to ethnic minority graduates, who increasingly embark on entrepreneurship as a rewarding and fulfilling alternative to paid employment. An illustrative case study approach is adopted for the purpose of this research study. The results of a qualitative investigation of four new venture creation case studies of graduate ethnic minority entrepreneurs in the UK indicate that the main contribution of higher education for these graduate entrepreneurs was in the area of knowledge and skills acquisition. The main motivational factors acknowledged by the respondents included ‘lack of satisfaction’ in working for others, the need to be their own ‘boss’ and achieve more, and the prospect of higher earnings. The authors found no correlation between degree discipline and graduates' propensity to become entrepreneurs. Graduates from non-business disciplines appear to be more likely to engage in entrepreneurship. The size of start-up finance can have an impact on the survival and growth of new ventures. It is therefore suggested that financial institutions and government agencies should develop more focused services, aimed specifically at supporting ethnic minority graduate entrepreneurs in their drive to convert business ideas into thriving and employment-generating enterprises.
Livestock Early Warning Information Resource in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Kaitho R.J. , Jama A.A. , Stuth J.W. , Kariuki G. , Abdirahman A. , MacOpiyo L. , Ndung'u J.
Published: September 2010

The Livestock Early Warning System (LEWS) project, now transformed into the Livestock Information Network and Knowledge System (LINKS), of the Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program led by Texas A&M University has developed robust forage monitoring and livestock market information systems covering the eastern African region. The two systems systematically and continuously collect and deliver timely information on forage supplies, and forecast livestock market prices and volume trends to stakeholders. The analysis and the suite of products generated are intended to enable pastoral communities to respond to crises and thus protect livelihoods, communities' assets and their ability to subsist in harsh environments, by triggering appropriate and timely responses. This article describes the development methodology, implementation structure and application of these early warning products.
Beyond Participation – Building Farmer Confidence
Authors: Ward Andrew , Minja Eliaineny , Blackie Malcolm , Edwards-Jones Gareth
Published: September 2010

Despite large investments in research to modernize African agriculture, enabling it to fulfil its potential, traditional agriculture still predominates. To many, the lack of adoption of knowledge generated through agricultural research is due either to the inexplicable functioning of the farmer's decision-making process or to a set of issues so complex that it is not clear how they could ever be overcome. This paper reviews a project in Sub-Saharan Africa in which bean pest management became a tool through which communities were empowered to address a wide range of development issues. This paper suggests that what needs to be altered substantially is the way scientists view and interact with the poor.
Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions of Cruise Passengers Visiting the Azores
Authors: Silvestre António Luís , Santos Carlos M. , Ramalho Carla
Published: September 2010

This paper evaluates the satisfaction of cruise passengers visiting the Atlantic islands of the Azores Archipelago. It investigates the relationship between their satisfaction with the Azores and their behavioural intentions, not only with regard to repurchasing the cruise but also to the likelihood of their recommending it and the Azores to friends and relatives. A structural equation model is used to analyse the factors that make the Azores attractive as cruise ports of call. The data were obtained from a survey distributed between March and December 2004 among the passengers of cruises docking at Azores ports. The findings reveal that, besides value for money, the two main factors driving the behavioural intentions are linked, first, to the city, its attractions in general and the individual's level of satisfaction with the overall visit and, second, and of lesser importance, to the perceptions of hospitality, safety, services and cleanliness of the environment in the Azores.
First-Time and Repeat Visitors to Cape Verde: The Overall Image
Authors: Correia Antónia , Oliveira Nuno , Butler Richard
Published: September 2010

This paper analyses the overall tourism image of Cape Verde by applying a categorical regression estimation. In the empirical test, a random sample of 120 Portuguese tourists travelling to Cape Verde during the carnival holidays was used. A significant positive relationship was found between a set of emotional and cognitive attributes and tourism image. The study analyses tourists with different experiences (first-time visitors and repeat visitors) in terms of image perception. The findings demonstrate that first-time and repeat visitors perceive the image of the archipelago differently. These differences should be considered as a determinant when creating a competitive brand image for Cape Verde.
The Determinants of Length of Stay of Tourists in the Azores
Authors: de Menezes António Gomes , Moniz Ana , Vieira José Cabral
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the determinants of the length of stay of tourists in the Azores. It is found that socio-demographic profiles, such as nationality and Azorean ascendancy, and trip attributes, such as repeat visitation rates and type of flight, are important determinants. In addition, destination image and attitudes regarding environmental initiatives, constructed from a factor analysis exercise, also influence the length of stay. In particular, the results suggest that marketing strategies which promote the Azores for its nature, landscape, remoteness and weather may increase length of stay, whereas cultural heritage has the opposite effect.
Fractional Integration and Structural Breaks: Evidence from International Monthly Arrivals in the USA
Authors: Cunado J. , Gil-Alana L.A. , de Gracia F. P Erez
Published: September 2010

This paper proposes a new modelling approach for the total number of international monthly arrivals in the USA using fractional integration with a structural break that is endogenously determined by the model. As expected, the results show that the break date occurs at September 2001. Disaggregating the data according to the location of origin for the arrivals, the break at September 2001 is also found in most cases, the only exceptions being Canada (February 1998) and the Middle East (September 2000). More importantly, the fact that the orders of integration of all series are strictly smaller than one implies that the series are mean reverting. Thus, the negative shock produced by the 9/11 terrorist attacks should be transitory and no strong policies should be implemented to recover the number of arrivals in the USA.
Determinants of Inbound Tourism to South Africa
Authors: Saayman Andrea , Saayman Melville
Published: September 2010

South Africa has experienced a significant increase in tourist arrivals over the past ten years. The challenge is to sustain this growth and therefore it is important to understand the factors that influence inbound tourism to South Africa. The purpose of this article is to identify the various determinants of inbound tourism to South Africa from different source markets (categorized in continents). Time series quarterly data from 1993 to 2004 is used in the analysis of tourist arrivals. Cointegration analysis in a multivariate framework is used and the authors find that income, relative prices and travel cost are strong determinants of tourist arrivals (as with other destinations). They also find that climate and capacity play significant roles.
The Dual Effect of Resellers on Electronic Business Adoption by SMEs
Authors: Vanyushyn Vladimir
Published: September 2010

This study examines the effects resellers have on the decision of a small manufacturing firm to adopt e-business. These effects are twofold: fear of alienating a reseller can impede the adoption, while the reseller's intentions to invest in e-business can facilitate the adoption. Both effects are more pronounced for firms with fewer than 50 employees and almost irrelevant for firms with more than 200 employees. The explicit channel cannibalization effect and the moderating role of the willingness to cannibalize are also significant.
Micro-Enterprise Internationalization without Support
Authors: Dana Leo Paul , Chan Tiffany , Chia Daniel
Published: September 2010

In New Zealand, where it is more common to export lamb, one micro-enterprise – consisting of an entrepreneur and two assistants – is exporting Angus beef. A case study approach was used to gain an understanding of the international entrepreneurship of such a small firm. The methodology adopted was in-depth interviewing. The article provides insights into what an entrepreneur faces when developing a new export venture in the absence of government support.
New Service Development of Entrepreneurial Innovations in the IT Sector
Authors: Ottenbacher Michael C. , Harrington Robert J.
Published: September 2010

The authors report on a survey of small and medium-sized entrepreneurial information technology (IT) firms to investigate the impact of new service development (NSD) process activities on innovation success and failure. Their findings highlight the importance of managing the process to engage customers, management and employees, facilitating innovation champions to aid in idea generation and commitment, effectively communicating the benefits to customers, and using the tacit nature of the process to create barriers to imitation. In general, the findings point to several key elements that impact on successful entrepreneurial IT innovation projects and appear to result from an iterative, flexible and process-linked approach to NSD innovation.
Entrepreneurship Encouragement and Business Development Support at Universities and Science Parks
Authors: Arroyo-Vázquez Mónica , van der Sijde Peter
Published: September 2010

New stakeholders and new roles for old stakeholders have emerged with the development of entrepreneurial universities. A new systemic framework is therefore required which includes these various stakeholders and their goals and thus gives a clear picture of the process of entrepreneurship encouragement and business development support (EE&BDS). The authors propose a model for knowledge transfer and company growth in the context of entrepreneurial universities and science parks. This integrative approach to the roles of the different stakeholders, activities, tools, goals and needs facilitates the arrangement and management of the EE&BDS process. The authors describe and assess their EE&BDS model, presenting the case of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the science park linked to it, the Polytechnic City of Innovation (CPI). The analysis identifies the roles of and relationships among the UPV-CPI stakeholders and shows how this integrative approach can enhance the EE&BDS process for the institution.
The Role of Universities in the Entrepreneurship Industry
Authors: McGowan Pauric , van der Sijde Peter , Kirby David
Published: September 2010

It is becoming increasing clear that a new industry – the entrepreneurship industry – is in the ascendant and that universities are a part of this development. Furthermore, the idea of the entrepreneurial university has only recently entered the debate. Promoting the entrepreneurship agenda within constituencies where it is not traditionally acknowledged is a peculiar challenge that requires the adoption and adaptation of traditional selling approaches (‘valorisation mechanisms’), mindful that the product on offer (‘entrepreneurship’) is a service. Via three case studies, the role of universities in this new industry and the role of academic entrepreneurship are highlighted.
Academic Entrepreneurship in South African HEIs
Authors: Grundling J. P. , Steynberg L.
Published: September 2010

This article first identifies the principal forces that impact on and shape entrepreneurially-oriented higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa, and then analyses the degree to which those institutions have succeeded in becoming entrepreneurial. The results reveal that South Africa's HEIs are still in the initial phases of entrepreneurial development. This is attributable largely to factors particular to a developing country in a social transformational phase and faced with restricted social and economic capital.
Assessment of Sewage Application in Southeastern Nigeria
Authors: Asadu C.L.A. , Ukadike B. , Agada C.
Published: September 2010

The impact of sewage sludge and effluent on soil and underground water after about 40 years of application was evaluated in this study, with a particular focus on selected soil chemical properties, some trace element (Zn, Cu) and heavy metal (Pb and Cd) accumulation, mobility in the soil profile and possible contamination of the underground water. The chemical properties of the soil studied included pH, exchangeable cations and acidity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), available P, organic matter and total N. Long-term disposal of sewage sludge and effluents on the soils significantly (P < 0.001) increased the exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, available P, soil organic matter, total N and CEC, but significantly lowered the pH of the soils. The fertility status of the sewage-treated soil was thus enhanced. The study also showed that both trace elements and heavy metals were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in the sewage-amended soils than in the unamended soils. The accumulation of the trace and heavy metals in the former implies that the agricultural utilization of the sewage sludge and effluent should be done with care. The study showed no obvious adverse impact of the sewage sludge and effluent on underground water quality, but contamination by Pb is possible in the future.
Livestock Production and Feed Resource Constraints in Akaki and Lume Districts, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Tsegaye Bayush , Tolera Adugna , Berg Trygve
Published: September 2010

East Shewa in central Ethiopia represents a smallholder crop–livestock mixed farming system in which crops and livestock play a mutually supportive role. Formal and informal surveys were carried out to assess the major constraints in livestock production. The survey revealed that shortages of feed resources constituted a major restriction to raising livestock productivity. Livestock have multiple roles in sustaining the livelihoods of rural communities, the vital one being draught power for crop production. The study stresses that improving the livelihoods of rural communities in mixed farming systems calls for multidisciplinary approaches to address constraints faced in both livestock and crop production.