bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harmonization in a change environment: Transforming and harmonizing new teams and cultures
Authors: Lindenfield Stuart
Published: June 2010

When the norms around which the business operates change, management of workforces becomes a key challenge. Stuart Lindenfield, head of transition services at Reed Consulting, discusses strategies for harmonizing teams under new organizational structures and cultures.
The business of cultural transformation: How leadership behaviour impacts business results
Authors: Garrett Kellie , Watson Claire
Published: June 2010

Faced with a fast pace of internal change and a shifting and challenging marketplace, Farm Credit Canada embraced a comprehensive cultural transformation program four years ago. This ongoing program has yielded significant results driven by leadership commitment and accountability.
From talent compliance to talent commitment: Moving beyond the hype of talent management to realizing the benefits
Authors: Uren Lesley
Published: June 2010

Lesley Uren, chief executive of Jackson Samuel, discusses the key findings of a new research report that investigates talent management processes, identifies the challenges to implementation and highlights the best practices for achieving a culture of talent management commitment rather than compliance. The research draws on the experiences of 57 organizations, from a range of industry sectors and operating across international marketplaces.
The Generation Game
Authors: Conroy David
Published: June 2010

David Conroy of Mercer discusses the expectations of today’s workforce.
Customer‐Centric Evaluations
Authors: Galbreath Richard D
Published: June 2010

Richard D. Galbreath, president of Performance Growth Partners Inc, discusses the 720‐degree review.
How to manage Staff Mental Well‐Being
Authors: Sinclair Alice
Published: June 2010

While employers take great care over employees’ physical safety, from fire safety training to advice on posture, mental well‐being can be taken for granted.
RNLI rewards staff with educational opportunities
Authors: Smith Marie
Published: June 2010

The RNLI’s training and development manager, Marie Smith, explains why the charity took part in Adult Learners’ Week in the UK in May this year, and how creating a fun and inspiring program of activities and job shadowing opportunities was beneficial and rewarding for staff.
The practice of engagement: Research into current employee engagement practice
Authors: McBain Richard
Published: June 2010

Dr Richard McBain of Henley Management College’s HR Centre of Excellence discusses the findings of research into current employee engagement practice at 10 organizations and puts forward a resulting model of engagement and commitment. He argues that while employee engagement is a desirable goal, it should not become an end in itself ‐ organizations need to keep it within a strategic context.
O2 makes work a rewarding experience: How to update rewards to match employee needs
Authors: Gill Ali
Published: June 2010

A changing and increasingly complex corporate telecoms market made retention and development a top priority at O2. Ali Gill, co‐founding director of talent management consultancy Get feedback, explains how O2 addressed this challenge with a complete overhaul of its rewards system that was firmly integrated into HR processes and therefore drove business success.
UC RUSAL unites cultures through local CSR programs: Corporate Social Responsibility as an HR tool for managing a global organization
Authors: Petrova Victoria
Published: June 2010

Victoria Petrova, director of human resources at UC RUSAL, discusses how the company has used corporate social responsibility as a tool in its HR strategy. With over 100,000 employees and operations spanning five continents, UC RUSAL’s local corporate social responsibility programs have fostered a sense of unity and loyalty on a global scale.
Applying business disciplines to HR
Authors: Nolan Sara
Published: June 2010

Restructuring, streamlining, downsizing and redundancies have been commonplace in recent years as the corporates of the Western world gear up for a highly competitive, globalised marketplace governed by the “survival of the fittest” rule. HR has been at the heart of cost‐cutting exercises, from strategic input to transactional tasks. Perhaps as a result of this key role played in cost reduction initiatives, or due to the intangible nature of many HR services, or purely as a continuation of the streamlining trend, the HR department itself has been vigorously called upon to define its own value and to prove the efficiency of its operations.
Getting more bang for your buck
Authors: Hills Jan
Published: June 2010

Jan Hills, founder of the Hills Consultancy, discusses how HR can add value without breaking the bank.
The people skills behind the appraisal process
Authors: Gillen Terry
Published: June 2010

Terry Gillen, training specialist, argues that irrespective of how good performance‐appraisal processes are, their effectiveness is often restricted by two facts: managers’ enthusiasm for appraisal rarely matches that of HR and, despite some training, managers are usually more skilled at the technicalities of their function than working with staff to manage and develop their performance.
Harnessing values to drive change at Scottish Widows
Authors: Encombe Jock
Published: June 2010

Jock Encombe of corporate psychologists YSC explains how Scottish Widows created a common language in which to express its corporate values and to help guide it through a period of major change.
Celebrating success keeps team spirits high at UKFast.Net
Authors: Everton June
Published: June 2010

Julie Everton, HR manager at internet hosting company UKFast.Net, explains how the company’s focus on team building and recognition has allowed it to maintain service levels while growing at a fast pace.
Putting Lean HR into practice: Shifting the focus from cost reduction to operational excellence
Authors: Higgins Nicholas J.
Published: June 2010

The HR function is increasingly driven by effectiveness, efficiency and performance. This means taking a structured approach to HR operational excellence and applying business metrics and methodologies. Nicholas J. Higgins, dean of the International School of Human Capital Management, explains how the concept of Lean HR can bring clarity to the cost‐value relationship.
Innovapost bridges the competency gap: Helping employees understand and meet expectations
Authors: Charland Brent , Leclair Melanie
Published: June 2010

The creation of joint‐venture organization Innovapost involved the integration of strong and disparate corporate cultures. Brent Charland and Melanie Leclair from Innovapost’s HR department explain how the company’s Professional Development Series helped employees to understand and meet the expectations of the new organizational strategy and structure.
The benefits of partnership for OD and HR: The changing roles of OD and HR create a new partnership dynamic
Authors: Ellis Fiona
Published: June 2010

As HR becomes more strategic, there’s a potential overlap in roles and skill sets with organizational development. Rather than compete, Fiona Ellis, a director of the Bath Consultancy Group, argues that the two should work in partnership. She draws on the experiences of OD and HR professionals in a range of organizations to explore the nature of this evolving relationship.
Leadership in the 21st century
Authors: Nolan Sara
Published: June 2010

Leadership in the 21st century can be a minefield. Power to the people, and to the shareholders, is the order of the day, and the autocratic route is rarely an acceptable option ‐ even in entrepreneurial‐based organizations where it was once deemed alright for strong‐willed leaders to firmly stamp their vision and authority on others.
Talking the walk: the top five secrets of uninspiring leaders
Authors: Bajer Javier
Published: June 2010

Dr Javier Bajer of Possibilate shows that it’s all too easy for leaders to become uninspiring.
How to improve your CEO’s people skills
Authors: Harrison Steve
Published: June 2010

What employees want in a leader is someone who articulates the values the company stands for and models his or her behaviour on those values in matters large and small.
How can I sell HR strategies with intangible value?
Authors: Fields Tyler Cheryl
Published: June 2010

This question is one of the perennial issues in HR, and there are some very practical ways to tackle it. This article examines 4 strategies.
Compensation across borders
Authors: Wilson Frances , Williams Peter
Published: June 2010

Frances Wilson, international manager at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and freelance journalist Peter Williams examine reward and recognition from a global mobility perspective and look at how Cadbury Schweppes is managing global growth through reward design principles.
What makes your leaders tick? Getting a personal perspective on the people at the top
Authors: Taylor Ros
Published: June 2010

Psychologist Ros Taylor interviewed 80 leaders, including chief executives, chairmen and managing directors of some of the leading organizations in the UK and US, in her bid to discover what makes leaders tick. In this article she shares her findings, which cover everything from health and fitness levels to gender differences, and puts forward a top‐ten list.
Courage in the face of extraordinary talent: Why talent management has become a leadership issue
Authors: Powell Marcus , Lubitsh Guy
Published: June 2010

Organizations recognize the need to attract and successfully manage talented people, but with the balance of power lying in the hands of the cleverest and most talented, this requires both courage and consideration. Marcus Powell and Guy Lubitsh of Ashridge Consulting discuss the results of recent talent‐management research and propose a five‐point plan.
Taking a bold approach to organizational learning: Making the most of the latest learning and development resources
Authors: Baldwin‐Evans Kay , Jennings Charles
Published: June 2010

Drawing on two pieces of research contrasting employee and employer perspectives of organizational learning, Kay Baldwin‐Evans, director of research at online learning provider SkillSoft, outlines the key findings and suggests that, to really make a difference HR professionals need to move out of their comfort zones. Charles Jennings, global head of learning at Reuters, discusses his organization’s forward‐thinking approach to learning and development.
Playing the workforce generation game: Meeting the HR challenges of changing workforce expectations
Authors: Walmsley Peter
Published: June 2010

The expectations of new employees are rapidly evolving and placing further challenges on HR professionals. Peter Walmsley, HR director and HR Access Solutions, uses his career experiences and the experiences of a leading automotive manufacturer to examine changing workforce expectations and to make recommendations on how to manage this latest HR hurdle.
The Single European Currency and implications of labour market imperfections
Authors: Lange Thomas
Published: June 2010

Britain’s decision to reject membership of a Single European Currency – the Euro – remains a focal point of contemporary political and economic debate. Both the Danish vote to reject the Euro and the latter’s slide in value have resulted in some anxious moments for those politicians and commentators who previously confidently predicted a rosy future for European monetary integration and stronger trade patterns. At a time when Britain still ponders over the decision of whether or not to join “Euro land” some serious questions need to be asked about the Single Currency’s impact on future economic prosperity, growth patterns and employment. This paper concentrates on monetary adjustment mechanisms in the absence ofa flexible exchange rate regime. It addresses the potential implications of productivity differentials and labour market imperfections, particularly by reference to a lack of European labour market mobility and the impact of European productivity differentials. Using particular aspects of the Scottish labour market, the paper concludes with an assessment of the Single European Currency’s impact on the Scottish economy and highlights the importance of “tradable skills” rather than mobile workers.
Trading places with communities: towards the protection of traditional knowledge in the context of international trade and global marekts
Authors: Gibson Johanna
Published: June 2010

In the context of intellectual property rights and international trade, the protection of traditional resources and knowledge remains uncertain. This paper considers the challenges to the traditional autonomy of the nation‐state in the context of globalisation and liberalisation of trade, and examines the potential for the protection and conservation of traditional resources in the international context of biodiversity and national borders of intellelctual property, drawing upon the Australian example. In addressing the need for relevant protection of traditional knowledge, this paper addresses the efficacy of modern notions of community beyond the geographic, localised model and towards diversity within a global civil society of obligations.
Codes of conduct in the multinational workplace
Authors: Verney Eugenie
Published: June 2010

The workplace activities of the multinational enterprises responsible for supplying consumers in the developed North with goods produced in the developing South have come under growing scrutiny in the past decade. In response, growing number of MNEs have embraced the concept of “corporate social responsibility”, producing codes of conduct by which they claim to do business. This article describes the intent and content of such codes, as well as the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development’s own MNE code of conduct, and illustrates how they perform in upholding the core labour rights enshrined by the International Labour Organisation, in particular the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Transparency issues in NAFTA: concerns and directions for free trade in an open environment
Authors: Bhasin Balbir B. , Ramanujam Jay
Published: June 2010

For any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement to be effective, it is imperative that transparency and good governance form the mainstay for achieving parity and trust amongst the partners. This article highlights pressing issues facing the partners of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), analyzes some of the current areas of conflict and suggests action to reduce tensions and promote harmony, goodwill and cooperation. The legal framework for transparency and governance needs to be seen as fair in addition to providing a mechanism for the airing of grievances and resolving conflicts. The requirements include: disclosure of relevant information, reasons for appropriate policy enactment and application and provision of investor protection safeguards. Of special import is the dire need to deal with issues of corruption at all levels. It is recommended that a conference be held to discuss issues of transparency and accountability as an initial endeavour in understanding the dynamics involved.
The role played by business associations in shaping EU external trade policy
Authors: McLean David
Published: June 2010

The European Commission initiates policy and conducts negotiations in EU trade matters, through the WTO framework. This article analyses the role played by business associations in this policy area through focussing on the service sector. Drawing on established work in the field and interviews conducted with the main business associations involved, multi‐level lobbying was found to be evident, at both national and EU levels. Although wide access to the policy process is clear, so too is the reliance of the Commission on expert knowledge from business, thus indicating a model of interest representation caught between that of pluralism and corporatism.
Trade decisions devoid of judicial activism: “too much too soon” for the dispute settlement body?
Authors: Ezeani Elimma C.
Published: June 2010

World Trade Organisation Judges, that is those who sit on the Panels and Appellate Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), have been increasingly dogged by criticisms of “judicial activism” in their decisions. Legal jurisprudence invites consideration of this issue. First, for the sake of academic examination, to question the viability of cloaking with compulsory jurisdiction, a dispute settlement body faced with the task of resolving matters which hinge on questions of national economic sovereignty. Second, for a practical assessment and review of this attempt by national representatives gathered under the political umbrella of a trade‐negotiating organisation to replicate the judicial style dispute settlement process of modern legal systems. The problems giving rise to threats of “judicial activism” are broadly two‐fold: (a) the increased complexities in trade disputes, and (b) the procedural teething worries of a still‐evolving judicial dispute organ. This paper examines these factors.
RFID Tags and the European Union: Really free internal distribution?
Authors: Reid Alan S.
Published: June 2010

This article discusses the development of Radio Frequency Identification technology and its legal implications. The technology promises to transform the supply chain, through increased efficiency, stocktaking accuracy and ultimately lower costs for consumers. RFID technology creates a variety of potential legal concerns. In particular, RFID tags have the potential to seriously undermine the human right to privacy. RFID tags are privacy neutral, in that they neither destroy privacy nor promote privacy. However, RFID tags may greatly facilitate the surreptitious collection of personal data. The privacy of consumers of RFID enabled products may be violated which will seriously undermine consumer confidence in the trustworthiness of commercial organisations. Within the European Union, RFID technology may facilitate actions designed to undermine the Internal Market. RFID technology is in its infancy, however, the speed of technological development in this area will require a range of legislative and non‐legislative responses in the near future. Solutions to the privacy problem must be holistic, and encompass responses from a range of stakeholders. Firstly, at the design stage, RFlD technology must be privacy promoting. Thereafter, utilisation of RFID technology must be accompanied by the adoption of privacy protecting legislation, voluntary self and coregulation, codes of conduct and technological tools.
Privacy and security: Best practices for global security
Authors: Millar Sheila A.
Published: June 2010

A legal obligation to adopt reasonable information security procedures exists in a variety of laws around the world, such as the EU Data Directive (Directive 95/46), Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and sectoral and state privacy laws in the U.S. The latter include security breach notification laws, and laws establishing a general duty of security. This paper compares and contrasts the privacy and information security landscape inside and outside the U.S. and offers suggestions for corporate “best practices” in data security designed to enhance consumer trust and minimize liability.
Free trade and semi‐closed borders: Symmetries, consistencies and contradictions
Authors: Bhandari Jagdeep S.
Published: June 2010

This paper examines the inter‐relationship between migration of persons and international trade in goods and services. Trade and immigration policies, their effects and inter‐dependence are examined from a variety of viewpoints across several disciplines, and an attempt is made to offer the outline of a synthesis. The relationship between trade and migration policies is of immediate relevance to policy‐makers. Unless such policies were coordinated, lawmakers might find that the desired effects of say, immigration policy might well be undone by independently chosen trade policy and conversely.
No Czech listed companies satisfied the requirements on reporting under IFRS/IAS: Application on financial instruments
Authors: Strouhal Jiri
Published: June 2010

Although in the United States derivatives have been traded since around the middle of the nineteenth century, in the Czech Republic a derivative was an unknown term until lately ‐ or rather a term referring to someplace an unknown empire. The situation started to change roughly in the second half of nineties, when as part of macroeconomic shocks and government crisis in 1997 when interest rates increased significantly and the Czech crown devaluated from day to day. At that time companies felt first time ever how heavy impact an unexpected and not counted on change of market conditions may have on them. From 2001 to 2004 another unusual phenomenon occurred which shook the business sector; should a prophet has predicted it at the end of the nineties, he would probably be crazy. The exchange rate of dollar against crown dropped from over 40 CZK/USD to 20 CZK/USD. Companies that made contracts with their customers in dollars but with suppliers in crowns bore a great exchange rate risk and they frequently paid a lot when dollar dropped. At the moment we also have to mention world prices of oil and oil products which rocketed so high that nobody could have expected it several years ago. This paper focuses on the comparison of reporting of the derivatives using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in comparison with the Czech accounting legislature by the companies listed on the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE). Study draws the attention to check the differences in reporting of derivatives and also compares their qualitative advantages. Results of this study are based on the analysis of annual reports of the companies listed on the PSE. Any of analyzed companies didn’t allow all of the requirements of IFRS on reporting of the financial derivatives.
European competition law and distribution via the internet
Authors: Ellis Justin
Published: June 2010

This article is limited mainly to the analysis of distribution or dealership agreements, one of the most common forms of vertical agreement. A particular problem raised by the Internet is the potential risk of a priori “unfair” price competition between retailers, on account of the possibility for retailers operating through the Internet to sell at much lower prices than property based retailers. For example, if a supplier sells a product to its distributors for €100, a brick‐based retailer may need to sell the product at, say, €120 in order to cover his property and staff costs and make a small profit, whereas a click‐based retailer may need only to sell at €104 to make the same profit. Alternatively, the internet retailer can sell at the same price as the high street shop and make a vastly superior profit. In order to achieve “fairness” between its retailers in those different environments, can a supplier dictate the price at which its products are sold or otherwise restrict selling via the Internet?
Trans‐national competition law and the WTO
Authors: Fisher Keith R.
Published: June 2010

This article addresses certain competition‐related issues that parties to a trans‐national merger and acquisition (M&A) transaction must face, preferably during the strategic planning phase. The ultimate focus will be on the suitability vel non of the World Trade Organization (WTO) serving, as has been proposed by some scholars and political bodies, as a form of supranational competition law authority with respect to merger clearance. The conclusion reached is that the WTO is institutionally ill‐suited for such a role but can, nonetheless, perform a useful albeit considerably more modest function as an enforcer of several purely procedural reforms suggested herein.
The harmonization of commercial law in Africa: The project related to telecommunications in the OHADA harmonization process
Authors: Mancuso Salvatore
Published: June 2010

The article starts from the examination of the reasons of the recent trends towards legal integration and gives a brief overview on the system to pursue the objective of legal integration. Then the major form of legal integration in the African continent ‐ the OHADA ‐ is taken into consideration by giving the main features of this legal harmonization process. The article further focuses on the possibility of reaching harmonization of the legal rules on telecommunications in the countries belonging to the OHADA. The paper also presents the reasons in favour of such legal harmonization, the possible obstacles that can be faced, and suggests some hints for the drafting process of the possible future uniform act.
Recent developments in internet defamation law
Authors: Sells Berkley D.
Published: June 2010

Internet defamation litigation is not the same as traditional libel litigation. Unique challenges facing plaintiffs seeking a remedy for destroyed goodwill of a business or damage to reputation include: anonymity of the author responsible for the defamation, cost of successfully tracking down the defendant and jurisdiction issues. This article considers certain legal issues raised by these unique problems and the efficacy of solutions offered in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Sound science and trade barriers: Democracy, autonomy, and the limits of the SPS agreement
Authors: Morse Edward A.
Published: June 2010

This article examines the framework of the Agreement for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and assesses its impacts on domestic autonomy and authority in matters of food and environmental safety. The direct impact of the SPS Agreement appears quite limited, as only a few cases have arisen. The Agreement has not proven to be a pervasive tool for the purpose of overturning domestic policies on food or environmental safety, despite the fact that the WTO Panel or Appellate Body decisions have found that domestic measures violate the terms of the SPS Agreement. Limited enforcement mechanisms provide protection for domestic policies, though perhaps at the price of trade sanctions. Moreover, theoretical literature suggests that the SPS Agreement may indeed enhance democratic values by discounting the influence of special interests and retaining ultimate authority for enforcement within the discretion of domestic government. Important issues nevertheless remain, including the role of the precautionary principle in policymaking and the means to address normative values, such as developing moral consensus on animal welfare, in trade matters. Trade has proven to be a catalyst for change and cooperative development in this context.
International trade law and the environment: Designing a legal framework to curtail the import of unsustainability produced biofuels
Authors: Switzer Stephanie
Published: June 2010

Discussions on the appropriate international regime to govern trade in biofuels are in their infancy. However, a large number of countries have set minimum blending targets for biofuels. Meeting these targets will require greater production and increased international trade in biofuels. Concerns exist as to whether unsustainable practices will be used to satisfy this growing demand. There is currently no multilateral agreement governing sustainable production and trade in biofuels. In the absence of an international framework, this paper will seek to demonstrate that concerned countries may unilaterally regulate imports of unsustainably produced biofuels in a way that is consistent with international trade rules. Unilateral regulation is to be understood as a stop gap until multilateral agreement can be reached on the interaction between trade in biofuels and issues of sustainability.
The potential impact of digital rights management on the Indian entertainment industry
Authors: Sensarkar Nilanjana
Published: June 2010

For India, having being endowed with a rich heritage of art and culture, copyright is perceived to offer potential rewards. The entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Indian economy. At present, India is not a signatory to the WIPO Internet Treaties, but the government has proposed amendments to the extant legislation to incorporate Digital Rights Management (DRM) as enshrined in them. Conventionally the western entertainment industry has viewed DRM as an important tool to combat piracy pervasive on the internet. DRM involves the application of a set of technical and legal mechanisms that allow copyright owners to control the access to their works, determine the types of permissible uses and terms of such uses and the ultimate distribution of their works in the digital world. With the growing popularity of Indian cinema abroad, the entertainment industry is attracting increasing foreign investment, is gradually being corporatised and thus it is felt that such investments need to be protected. DRM is considered to be one of the solutions as it prevents loss due to unlimited unauthorized reproduction of works, introduces more effective market segmentation and promotes the incentive to create, facilitating the maximum exploitation of works in the digital world. However, for India, a developing economy, such a path is to be treaded with caution. DRM is an extra‐statutory measure, with perceived potential impact on consumer privacy, innovation and limiting legitimate exceptions. A unique feature of the industry is that it is an extension of its dynamic indigenous folk and classical cultural tradition where the emphasis has been on adaptation and improvisation, drawing upon works in the public domain. Some experts observe that DRM poses a threat to such a tradition by artificially restricting the public domain.This paper explores the likely impact of the proposed introduction of the DRM provisions in the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 with its focus on Bollywood and the related music sector. Given the tension surrounding DRM, this paper examines the aforementioned issues, taking into consideration the promotion of the underlying objectives of copyright law. Noting that the case for strong copyright protection as a key for innovation is highly debatable, this paper argues that India should keep in mind the flexibilities under law as provided by various international treaties and in technology before adopting the DRM approach.
Reporting and measurement of the ice‐hockey contracts: Ideas for the true‐and‐fair view reporting of the NHL clubs
Authors: Strouhal Jiri
Published: June 2010

Year 2004 was influenced by the strike in the National Hockey League. The reason of this strike was the option of adoption of the wage ceiling for the NHL players. The paper stresses the attention to the problem how to account and measure the possibility of the players’ contracts with options in the new model. We are dealing with the following hypothesis: “Is possible to use the experiences of valuation of financial options not only to ROA (Real Options Analysis) but also for valuation of players’ contracts with option?” The modified Black‐Scholes Formula is one of the possible solutions how to measure the value of the option clause.
GATT/WTO and MEAs: Resolving the competing paradigm
Authors: Haseeb Ansari Abdul
Published: June 2010

Although free trade law and environmental law especially contained in multi lateral environmental agreements (MEAs) are more or less compatible, however, some twenty MEAs might create a conflicting situation with the GATT/WTO regime. Efforts through CTESS are being made to make the two regimes compatible with each other. But an amicable solution towards harmonizing them still seems to be far. It is said that if all WTO Member states have the political will to agree to one suggestion, the problem can be solved. But due to politicization of the WTO, a common view is difficult to be reached. It is true that all states want protection of the environment. It is evident from the fact that many MEAs have relatively a large number of members, and their member states are sincerely working on enforcing treaty norms contained in them. But when it comes to a conflict situation with international trade, differences among them becomes eminent. In spite of this, an optimistic view that the two regimes can be made complementary to each other is still being given importance. It is for this reason that states are forwarding their suggestions to the CTESS and the discussion is being carried forward on those suggestions. The paper critically examines the reality of ‘conflict or congruity’ between free trade law and environmental law, evaluates various suggestions to make the two regimes compatible with each other, and offers one suggestion that can bring about harmony and will be viable.
Iraq’s accession to the WTO: Commitments and implications
Authors: Hikmet Malkawi Bashar
Published: June 2010

Iraq has kicked off the procedures to accede to the WTO through the organization’s full working party accession process. In its accession, Iraq is expected to agree to an arduous package of legal and economic reform. Having plunged into the WTO with the belief that accession is its best hope for a prosperous future, Iraq will now face many challenges. Some industries may lose out to competition. Yet liberalizing its market and integrating its economy with the rest of the world will ultimately benefit Iraq because it will stimulate reform and provide trade protections it otherwise would not enjoy. Iraq has made a wise investment by negotiating for WTO membership. Iraq’s accession terms could be rigorous, but they represent not only a cost, but also an investment. WTO membership can be a helpful tool for achieving greater prosperity for Iraq because it encourages progressive domestic policies.
Need for FLCs in India with respect to honouring the GATS
Authors: Sen Krishnendu , Sahu Ritankar
Published: June 2010

Since India became a signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), it has been increasingly involved in multilateral negotiations for opening up its borders to international trade in services. The GATS was negotiated in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations in 1994, and regulates trade in all service sectors between its 149 member countries. Lawyers engaged in providing legal services in foreign countries generally act as ‘foreign legal consultants’ (FLC), providing advice on international law or other non‐domestic laws. India needs to liberalize its policy in foreign trade more in order to avail of the advantages of the globalization of trade in services. This research paper aims at understanding the setbacks to the liberalization of the Indian legal services sector and realizing the potential allowing the entry of FLCs in select areas of the sector and permitting the collaboration of Indian and foreign lawyers/law firms.
An east‐west contrast of foreign direct investment on small business development
Authors: Floyd David , Summan Sandhla
Published: June 2010

Foreign investment continues to play a greater role in business activity across the globe. It is therefore important to assess the main trends and reasons behind this increased activity so that business can make effective decisions on how they wish to engage in further global expansion. The paper further explores the importance of country specific legislation in determining the decision whether to invest. FDI can also have positive benefits on employment and enterprise which will also be considered. This article sets out to contrast the investment flows taking place in both East and Western countries and considers the main determinants of activity in these countries. Theories of internationalisation will be drawn upon as well as the use of investment data in order to explain investment behaviour. A Business History perspective will also be drawn upon. The article then considers future possible trends in light of these recent developments.
Globalization and China’s pathway in quest for a new identity
Authors: Dan Wei
Published: June 2010

In the context of globalization, the concept of national identity becomes much richer and the governments’ policy‐makings have been largely monitored by the markets. If some countries have been more successful than others in responding to the same challenges posed by incorporation by the world economy, then the reason for these different answers is to be found in their national choices. In recent years, few developing countries have enjoyed benefits from interaction with outside world as much as China has. As a late‐comer of globalization, China has been confronted with a clash between the dissolution of a traditional society and the construction of a modern one. Taking into consideration China’s history, population, size, potential and geo‐political influence, this article reviews her unique pathway in quest for a new identity in the era of globalization and tries to find some enlightenments equally useful for other developing countries.
How to cope with the globalization recommendations for the EU novel members
Authors: Avny Amos
Published: June 2010

Globalization, as the new way of division of labour, influences the world market and the economy of many countries. During the last decade, they changed (increased) the employment in the Service Sector in most of the EU original members and also increased their involvement in the global trade. A new member that wishes to upgrade its economy must find ways for deepening its involvement in the globalization process. It can successfully do it by finding its specific niche, by investing in infrastructures, by promoting its export‐oriented industries and by encouraging the creativity, innovative and entrepreneurship drives of its people. Countries that will fail to take the right actions will stay behind and many of its competent people would seek their livening in other promising locations.
Business and human rights: A critical assessment of the notion of CSR and measurement
Authors: Quiroz‐Onate Diego , Aitken Mhairi
Published: June 2010

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is talked about a great deal in contemporary academic as well as corporate and commercial circles. This paper argues that despite, or perhaps because of, its fashionable status, CSR is an ill‐defined concept which has consequently been interpreted and implemented in numerous different, and even conflicting, ways. It is demonstrated that currently there is no clear and unanimous definition of what CSR is, or should be. Importantly this means that there are also no clear and unanimous guidelines of how companies or private organisations should adopt CSR. The paper contends that this problem is further amplified through the lack of one single mechanism to measure a firm’s CSR performance ‐ there currently exists a multitude of different tools and strategies which pertain to serve this purpose, however, the lack of consistency or consensus between these mechanisms means that it is impossible to draw valid comparisons between the data they provide. Further, it is noted that this lack of consistency not only makes it hard to measure or compare firm’s progress, but makes it difficult for firms to know how to comply with CSR, or what it is that they should be complying with. The paper therefore argues that there is a need to develop one single standardised mechanism for measuring CSR performance so as to eliminate the current confusion and uncertainty that exists. It is contended that through a clearer picture of what is required of firms it would no longer be necessary for them to spend time and resources defining or interpreting the concept of CSR, rather they could instead focus on making valuable progress towards meeting the goals of CSR. Finally, the paper suggests that international law, and in particular human rights law, provides a strong basis from which to develop the required single, standard mechanism for measuring CSR performance.
Democracy and human rights: Reappraising the rhetoric of “interdependence and mutual reinforcement”
Authors: Effeh Ubong E.
Published: June 2010

The relationship between democracy and civil and political rights is often assumed to be self‐evident. What is often less obvious is that between democracy and economic and social rights. The emergence of China and India (two countries with divergent attitudes to democratic governance) as global economic powers has revived the debate about the relationship between democracy and both human rights categories. This short article is thus an attempt at assessing the strength of these relationships.
The problems of global cultural homogenisation in a technologically dependant world
Authors: Ben Fairweather N , Rogerson Simon
Published: June 2010

Global cultural homogenisation has significant consequences for our responsibility for others in distant parts of the globe. ICT gives a powerful impetus to this cultural homogenisation. There are a number of distinct elements that contribute to this.
Airports as data filters: Converging surveillance systems after September 11th
Authors: Lyon David
Published: June 2010

Airports are crucial channels of mobility for the global citizens of the twenty‐first century. They are points of entry and exit for tourists, business persons, workers, students and of course, for some refugees as well. The scale of operations is huge ‐ international passenger travel increased twelve‐fold in the second half of the twentieth century (Urry, 2000: 50) and the vast majority of this is accounted for in air travel. In the USA alone there are two million daily airtravelers on 20,000 flights (Gottdiener,2001: 1). Airports are ‘placeless’ sites of temporary sojourn, air‐lock chambers for nomadic executives or sun‐seekers. But they have profound social and political significance, particularly in personal data handling.
Online cultural imperialism: Is it an ethical issue?
Authors: Weckert John , Al‐Saggaf Yeslam
Published: June 2010

Recently two reports appeared in the press, each of which expressed a very different attitude towards intellectual property. One, in the Australian press, discusses a bill before the US House of Representatives that would “give American copyright holders freedom to hack PCs used to illicitly share files over peer‐to‐peer (P2P) networks, without fear of prosecution or litigation”. That this represents a fairly strong view of the importance of intellectual property can be seen further as the report continues.
Hacker ethics in the marketplace: the example of freeware
Authors: Bissett Andy
Published: June 2010

An intriguing development in the realm of commercial software has arisen over the last decade, from highly improbable beginnings. From its inception in the ‘hacker ethic’, freeware has had a huge impact on IT businesses around the world, most strongly in the guise of its spin‐off, open source software. The eventual consequences are that, for example, more than 60% of all the servers on the World Wide Web are running the Apache open source system, and Linux, the open source cousin of Unix, is challenging Microsoft’s products as the most popular business server operating system. Major IT users such as multinational banks, and major IT companies including IBM, Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems, Dell, Oracle, Informix, Intel, Fujitsu, AMD and Computer Associates are investing in and supporting Linux. In 1998, Netscape Communications made public (‘opened’) the source code for its Netscape web browser. In 1999 Apple published the source for the ‘Darwin’ core of its Mac OS X. The Perl freeware programming language continues to gain popularity for web‐based applications.
Emerging ethical perspectives of e‐commerce
Authors: Harris Lisa , Coles Anne‐Marie , Davies Richard
Published: June 2010

A key debate about the nature and role of ecommerce centres around the question of whether it is merely an old activity in a new form, or a discontinuous process that rewrites the ideas and assumptions of the ‘old’ economy. The objective of this exploratory and qualitative study is to shed some light on this issue through the lens of business ethics. We will examine whether established ethical principles still apply to e‐commerce, or instead if the ‘rule book’ now needs to be re‐written.
The promise of public access: Lessons from the American experience
Authors: Bowman Warigia , Khandwalla Arifa
Published: June 2010

This essay surveys and synthesizes the academic literature, archival sources and interviews with key policy makers regarding the emergence of community technology centers in the US. Community Technology Centers (CTCs) came to the fore in the late 1990s through an activist nonprofit sector combined with federal government and private sector funding. Federal data indicates that CTCs now represent the most important access points to information communications technology for the poor in the US. This essay reviews the latest arguments for and against continued investment in CTCs and public access in general. In addition to providing access, which is often used beneficially for employment and education related purposes, CTCs appear to contribute to social capital as they become social gathering points. This paper concludes, that both government and nonprofits play a vital role in ensuring public access for the poor and that continued investment in CTCs is warranted.
Applying the new software engineering code of ethics to usability engineering: A study of four cases
Authors: Burmeister Oliver K. , Weckert John
Published: June 2010

It has been argued that it is in the best interests of IT professionals, to adopt and enforce professional codes in the work place. But there is no code for usability engineers, unless one accepts that it is a branch of software engineering. The new joint ACM/IEEE‐CS Software Engineering Code of Ethics is applied to actual usability cases. This enables usability engineers to interpret this code in their profession. This is achieved by utilizing four case studies both directly in terms of the ethical issues involved and in the light of the code. Also examined are the short‐comings of the code for the domain of usability engineering, and suggestions are made for enhancements for future revisions of the code.
Discourse analysis: Power/Knowledge on an academic listserv
Authors: McGee Patricia , Briscoe Felecia
Published: June 2010

This case study examines whether an academic listserv functions primarily as a medium for progressive discourse in which enacted power relations are collaborative or primarily as a medium for discourse in which norms are unilaterally established and off‐line hierarchical power relations are re‐enacted. A few instances of progressive norm setting and other indicators of collaborative power relations were found. However, findings overall suggest that the hierarchical power relations of the college context were re‐enacted in the listserv as revealed by the manner in which the discourse was patterned by gender, rank, and role.
Convivo communicator: An interface‐adaptive VoIP system for poor quality networks
Authors: Escobar Marco A , Best Michael L
Published: June 2010

Convivo is a VoIP system designed to provide reliable voice communication for poor quality networks, especially those found in rural areas of the developing world. Convivo introduces an original approach to maintain voice communication interaction in the presence of poor network performance: an Interface‐ Adaptation mechanism that adjusts the user interface to reduce the impact of high latency and low bandwidth networks. Interface modes facilitate turn taking for high latency connections, and help to sustain voice communication even with extremely low bandwidth or high error rates. An evaluation of the system, conducted in a rural community in the Dominican Republic, found that Interface‐Adaptation helped users to maintain voice communication interaction as network performance degrades. Transitions from full duplex to voice messaging were found particularly valuable. Initial results suggest that as users get more experience with the application they would like to manually control transitions based on feedback provided by the application and their own perceived voice quality.