bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lean Thinking and the Innovation Process
Authors: Hurriyet Hilal , Nakandala Dilupa
Published: July 2019

This chapter analyses the evolution of lean thinking and its widening applications from its origin of the manufacturing industry towards the other industries with the emphasis on how organizations could learn from lean thinking for achieving improved performance of innovation processes. Based on the degree of novelty, uncertainty and complexity associated with innovation processes, direct adoption of lean thinking for optimization is considered to be challenging. We discuss that organizations need to realize that there are opportunities for lateral learning from lean applications that have benefited systematic repetitive processes such as manufacturing by adapting to innovation processes through identification and shedding of non-value added activities. By identifying several lean innovation approaches in practice for optimizing innovation process, we stress the need and opportunity for the adaptation of lean thinking to cater the special characteristics of innovation processes.
Cloud Manufacturing Towards Sustainable Management
Authors: Hao Yuqiuge , Helo Petri
Published: July 2019

Nowadays, most manufacturing companies have realized the importance of collaboration between dispersed factories, different suppliers, and distributed stakeholders. Cloud computing is an evolution of the Internet; it does not just change the technology, but also enables collaborative innovation. Cloud manufacturing (CM) is another form of networked manufacturing. It provides common and standard manufacturing services by cloud logic and principle. In this chapter, a new concept is suggested based on the fundamental theory and key technologies of CM. Cloud Future Factory, which is intended to manage a matrix-type organizational structure, focuses on improving communication in lean manufacturing. This case company has dispersed production lines and business departments. Therefore, it's very necessary to introduce an efficient and dynamic information integration platform. This chapter leads to a different way of thinking for using the cloud manufacturing concept in different formations. CM is not just suitable for small and medium sized enterprises, but also fits large size companies.
Moving Forward a Parsimonious Model of Eco-Innovation
Authors: Fernando Yudi , Wah Wen Xin
Published: July 2019

Complexity of sustainability issue in operations management leads this study to determine a parsimonious model of eco-innovation. Most of research findings have been emphasized on the effect of innovation on company's economic benefits. However, there is inadequate study in respect to eco-innovation and impact to business and environmental sustainability. This is causing a lack of study on this topic. The paper focuses on determinants of drivers of eco-innovation and seeks the impact to the outcome of sustainable business performance. Content analysis is used in order to explain phenomena of eco-innovation in operations management and categorize the determinants of drivers. The unit of analysis of this study is driver or factor of eco-innovation which commonly uses in entire articles. The scope of review encompassed articles published during 1994 to 2012. Results indicate that a parsimonious model of eco-innovation was consisted of five drivers. More comprehensive and robust findings could be obtained by testing this model and broadening the scope of study.
The Role of Internal Standardization in Business Models
Authors: Johansson Magnus , Foukaki Amalia , Kärreman Matts
Published: July 2019

This chapter focuses on business models and the role of internal standardization in business models. We develop a typology that outlines the role of internal standardization for a set of value configurations that serve as representations of generic business models. The topic is of importance for both managers and researchers in relation to firm level innovation and strategy, as well as how business models relate to internal and external standardization. With regard to business model innovation, this chapter can aid in identifying shifts in the firm's internal standardization focus associated with changes in its business model.
An Innovative Company in a Smart City
Authors: Culasso Francesca , Mauro Sara Giovanna
Published: July 2019

The aim of this chapter is to analyze the business model of an innovative company in the context of a smart city. Specifically, this research investigates key components and challenges concerning the operationalization of a business model originally conceived to be sustainable. This chapter relies on the analysis of the empirical evidence collected at the organizational level by combining different data sources, including official and internal documents, face-to-face interviews, and questionnaires. It is thus designed to contribute to the lively debate on sustainability by providing empirical evidence and shedding light on the operationalization of the concept of sustainable business model. Further, in light of the smart context where the company operates, this research paves the way for further investigation into the potential win-win collaboration between innovative companies and smart cities to foster sustainability consistent with a systems approach to the topic.
Mobile Financial Services at the Base of the Pyramid
Authors: Mohamad Mostafa , Wood-Harper Trevor , Ramlogan Ronnie
Published: July 2019

Mobile financial services is one of the uprising movements to bank the unbanked by integrating philanthropic and business approaches for financial inclusion. In this chapter, the authors address how a systemic view helps integrate the Philanthropic Initiatives (PI) and the Commercial Initiatives (CI) to get a sustainable impact on the unbanked micro-entrepreneurs. However, each approach has pros and cons as they go along the stages of design, deployment, and sustainability. Using the soft system thinking, the authors theorise the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) as a business system to mix-up the relatively high start-up capabilities of the PI with the relatively sustainable impact of CI. The mobile money case shows that donors, local private enterprises, and multinational corporations follow the BoP strategy to develop an online grid that offers a reconciled balanced scorecard for economic returns, social benefits, and local impact. Such a strategy guarantees flexible, long-term investments and facilitates developing innovative financial services.
E-Service Innovation in Rural Africa Through Value Co-Creation
Authors: Bon Anna , Gordijn Jaap , Akkermans Hans
Published: July 2019

E-Services have great potential, even in resource-poor environments such as in sub-Saharan Africa. However, contextual factors pose significant challenges for development, feasibility, deployment and sustainability of e-services. This chapter presents a case of e-service value co-creation in a rural context, with targeted end users in regions characterized by limited electricity infrastructure and poor or absent internet, strong diversity in languages spoken, high illiteracy rates and limited purchasing power. It offers a methodology to upfront analyze business model sustainability for e-service innovation in severely resource-constrained contexts. This is illustrated by an extensive case study in which a voice-based microblogging e-service was developed and deployed with local stakeholders in rural Mali.
The Economics Sustainability in Medium and Small Companies in Colombia (SMEs)
Authors: Duran Fabio Fernando Moscoso , Mancha-Navarro Tomás
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to explain the importance of SMEs for Colombian economic growth and how business sustainability can generate value, innovation, and respect for the environment. The chapter analyzes how SMEs could create economic sustainability based on the study carried out by Avellaneda et al. for the Colombian case. It is structured with the main objective of explaining the most important barriers to sustainable practices of SMEs in developing countries. Some theoretical elements that allow SMEs to create sustainable value in companies and the main stylized fact of SMEs at world level are introduced. Finally, the chapter analyzes how to integrate sustainability into business practices based on the study carried out by the EAN University in a sample of SMEs between 2000 and 2009.
Trends and Conclusions for Business Development in the Renewable Energy Industry
Authors: Tantau Adrian , Frăţilă Laurenţiu Cătălin
Published: July 2019

The renewable energy industry represents a very dynamic sector, connected with other economic sectors. The trends in this field are numerous and various. The setting of EU targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction is a policy at European level. The huge amount of data calls for the use of complex data processing equipment and systems, so now we can talk about the smart grid, decentralization, the Energy Management System and the Energy storage system. Business development requires very large investments and various financing methods, but especially well-detailed and reasoned business models that can be adapted to local conditions. There are changes at the level of HR through the creation of new specific jobs, as well as continuous training for specialists. The main objective of this chapter is to present the major trends related to the renewable energy sector and their impact on the economic development and on the environment. This chapter presents 18 main trends identified by the authors and analyzed in the renewable energy field. Each of these trends follows in a brief overview the actual situation and the future perspective.
Using Business Value Models to Elicit Services Conducting Business Transactions
Authors: Ilayperuma Tharaka , Zdravkovic Jelena
Published: July 2019

Traditional organizational structures evolve towards online business using modern IT – such as cloud computing, semantic standards, and process- and service-oriented architectures. On the technology level, Web services are dominantly used for modeling the interaction points of complex Web applications. So far, development of Web services has matured on the technical perspective considering for example the development of standards for message exchanges and service coordination. However, business concepts, such as economic assets exchanged in transactions between cooperating actors, cannot be easily traced in final Web service specifications. As a consequence, business and IT models become difficult to keep aligned. To address this issue, the authors propose an MDD approach to elicit business services and further software services using REA business model as the starting point. The proposal focuses on a value-explorative elicitation of business services at the top level and model transformations using UML 2 to the system level by utilizing well-defined mappings.
Handling the Dataflow in Business Process Models
Authors: Bruno Giorgio
Published: July 2019

This chapter stresses the importance of the dataflow in business process models and illustrates a notation called DMA that is meant to fulfill two major goals: promoting the integration between business processes and information systems and leveraging the dataflow to provide flexibility in terms of human decisions. The first goal is fulfilled by considering both tasks and business entities as first-class citizens in process models. Business entities form the dataflow that interconnects the tasks: tasks take the input entities from the input dataflow and deliver the output entities to the output dataflow. Human decisions encompass the selection of the input entities when a task needs more than one, and the selection of the task with which to handle the input entities when two or more tasks are admissible. DMA provides a number of patterns that indicate how tasks affect the dataflow. In addition, two compound patterns, called macro tasks, can be used to represent task selection issues. An example related to an order handling process illustrates the notation.
Public Organizations and Business Model Innovation
Authors: Lewandowski Mateusz
Published: July 2019

Improvement of public services and raising the citizens' quality of life is one of the biggest concerns of public sector. Changing the way public organizations operate could support such an improvement. In this regard, business model framework is an emerging field of research that could shed some new light. Yet, in case of public organizations, business model innovation remains heavily underexplored. The purpose of this chapter is threefold, to indicate and discuss the opportunities of adapting the business model innovation theory to public organizations, to conceptualize its theoretical framework, and to explore the role of public service design in the process of innovating public sector business models.
Planning for Future Inquiry
Authors: Egbert Joy L , Shahrokni Seyed Abdollah , Zhang Xue , Yahia Intissar Ahmed , Borysenko Nataliia , Mohamed Adnan F. Saad , Herman David , Lopez-Lopez Sonia , Ezeh Chioma , Aljarih Faraj
Published: July 2019

The body of research on CALL tasks and topics grows daily; however, there are still a number of areas that are underrepresented in the literature. While there are many gaps in the CALL research to address, this article specifically focuses on eight gaps, chosen because of their perceived importance in improving CALL evidence and research practices and, by extension, language teaching and learning. In presenting the gaps, each section in this article: 1) provides a rationale for exploring the topic, 2) briefly reviews studies that typify the extant research in the focal area, and 3) provides recommendations for future research. The purpose of this article is to encourage all stakeholders in CALL to join in the rigorous and multi-perspective exploration of these under-addressed areas and strengthen the use of CALL for language learning and teaching.
Constructing Knowledge-Based Feedback in the Context of an Interactive Spoken CALL Application
Authors: Tsourakis Nikos , Baur Claudia , Rayner Manny
Published: July 2019

Modern Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) systems use speech recognition to give students the opportunity to build up their spoken language skills through interactive practice with a mechanical partner. Besides the obvious benefits that these systems can offer, e.g. flexible and inexpensive learning, user interaction in this context can often be problematic. In this article, the authors introduce a parallel layer of feedback in a CALL application, which can monitor interaction, report errors and provide advice and suggestions to students. This mechanism combines knowledge accumulated from four different inputs in order to decide on appropriate feedback, which can be customized and adapted in terms of phrasing, style and language. The authors report the results from experiments conducted at six lower secondary classrooms in German-speaking Switzerland with and without this mechanism. After analyzing approximately 13,000 spoken interactions it can be reasonably argued that their parallel feedback mechanism in L2 actually does help students during interaction and contributes as a motivation factor.
Investigation of ESL Students' Interaction With Online Information Resources
Authors: Almobarraz Abdullah
Published: July 2019

This article describes how Saudi Arabia has a scholarship program that provides opportunities for Saudi citizens to pursue their undergraduate and graduate university education abroad. Because students have not mastered English, they initially enroll in an English institution. The internet is an enormously valuable learning tool for ESL students. However, Saudi students' use of information resources for learning English is unclear. This study thus investigates the information-seeking behavior of scholarship students when using online resources to learn ESL. The findings reveal that the students have a positive perception of online resources; however, they require training on searching for and using such resources. It is also found that most students use self-motivation to find online resources to increase their knowledge of English. The lack of awareness of appropriate resources is found to be the most common problem.
Exploring Socio-Cultural Elements in Three Commercial English Language Learning Apps
Authors: Garnes-Tarazona Inmaculada
Published: July 2019

Second language teaching and learning has experienced a change towards the use of mobile technologies inside and outside the classroom. The goal of this article is twofold: to compare and evaluate three different commercial English language learning apps (Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu) that cover the four skills (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), and to analyze the learning theory supporting their design. These applications include in their homepage the option of interactive learning with friends. However, as this article shows, each app offers a different level of interaction and collaboration. The theoretical framework for this analysis is grounded on Vygotsky's Socio-cultural theory.
Teaching Foreign Languages in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Gretter Sarah , Gondra Ager
Published: July 2019

This chapter explores the case of a hybrid Spanish program where technology, standards, and teacher expertise in foreign language education are merged to bolster students' learning. The chapter identifies the instructional elements relevant to 21st century foreign language education, and depicts the transactional relationship between technology, standards and teacher experience in a Spanish hybrid teaching environment. Finally, we provide a set of recommendations for current and future Spanish educators, as well as foreign language educators in general based on the experiences shared by students, educators, and administrator in the program.
Life-Long Language Learning Strategies for a Brave New Digital World
Authors: Sadoux Marion
Published: July 2019

The focus of this case study is to report and reflect on the design, implementation and fine tuning of the Peer Supported Online Language Learning Exchange module, known more simply as OLLE (Online Language Learning Exchange) which was developed in 2013 and is delivered in collaboration with students at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. This module seeks to give students in all three University Campuses (United Kingdom, China, and Malaysia) the opportunity to continue to learn a foreign language together, blending, where this is geographically possible, face to face learning opportunities with online learning. It strongly emphasizes language learning as a lifelong learning skill and seeks in particular to develop students' skills in learning to learn a language in digital realms and to develop a strong set of digital literacies for language learning.
Technology Instruction in Language Teacher Education Programs
Authors: Zhang Yining , Deroo Matthew
Published: July 2019

It is important to examine how prospective teachers were prepared with integrating technology in their teaching. This study explored the integration of technology instruction among ten top world language teacher preparation programs in the United States. Data collection included document analysis of syllabi and interviews with program directors and instructors. The findings revealed that technology instruction were provided to language pre-service teachers through general technology courses, methods courses, and a series of technology-related courses infused throughout the entire program. In addition, technology courses organized a variety of approaches to enrich students' experiences with technology. We also generated four main themes to reflect some key elements in current technology instruction for pre-service teachers. The study enriches our knowledge of the current situation for how different world language teacher education programs prepare their pre-service teachers.
The Technology Segment of a Methods Course
Authors: Hendryx Jason D.
Published: July 2019

This chapter reports a case study with survey data collected from one residency Spanish language teacher completing the final phase of a modern languages education program as well as two current in-service Spanish language teachers who completed the same program the year previously. Specifically, the study examined 1) what the three teachers recall of an overarching framework for embracing technology they were introduced to in their methods course, 2) what technologies they currently employ for language instruction and why, and 3) what characteristics they imagine the model modern language educator of the future will require. Findings revealed that these teachers did not recall in detail the overarching system for embracing technology introduced to them, they utilized a very broad range of technologies for teaching which would prove difficult to train them all in effectively during a methods course, and they saw flexible, engaging, patient, and content-prepared professionals as the future of the profession.
The Role of Language Teacher Beliefs in an Increasingly Digitalized Communicative World
Authors: Lawrence Geoff
Published: July 2019

This chapter discusses the role of the language teacher and their beliefs in realizing the potential that rapidly evolving technology-mediated tools offer second/additional language learning (L2) in an increasingly digitalized world. The promise and pressures of technology integration are first discussed highlighting the need for new approaches to pedagogy in technology-mediated L2 teaching. Factors contributing to teacher resistance are then reviewed including the unique qualities of educational resistance to technology. Research identifying the nature of teacher beliefs from a range of studies is examined along with a conceptual framework illustrating the interconnected factors shaping L2 teacher beliefs and behaviour towards educational technology. Recommendations for effective approaches to technology-directed language teacher education and areas of needed research conclude the chapter.
Second or Foreign Language Learning With Augmented Reality
Authors: Statti Aubrey , Torres Kelly M.
Published: July 2019

The following chapter will discuss the impact of technology use and mobile learning, specifically augmented reality (AR), in the process of learning a second or foreign language, namely English and Spanish. The chapter will begin with an overview of AR and then include a discussion of the theoretical framework, language learning contexts, as well as AR tools and applications in the process of second or foreign language learning. An overview of the benefits of AR in language learning will also be included, as well as an introduction to AR applications and specific AR systems, platforms, and case studies in language learning. The research will also provide a discussion of the challenges of using AR in language learning contexts, including specific attention to challenges with AR and learning, AR and language learning, and mobile learning as a whole. The chapter will conclude with final thoughts from the authors in terms of potential areas of AR development that are in need of further attention.
Rebirth of a Program via Community, Industry, and Philanthropic Support
Authors: Ruch Cathleen Brandi
Published: July 2019

In 2002, Lake Region State College closed their “Agricultural Farm Business Management” program, due to low enrollment and lack of interest. However considering that agriculture is one of the leading economic developers in North Dakota, Lake Region State College (LRSC) leaders and the community felt this might have been a premature closing, and decided to look at other agriculture workforce initiatives, considering ways to revitalize the agriculture workforce and its needs. This was an ambitious goal considering how rural LRSC is, with roughly 2000 in student matriculation in a given year. Before looking at reinventing, or “rebirthing” the ag program, challenges and steps needed to be addressed and employed. The following chapter will provide a case study on how LRSC leaders, its community, and the alignment of philanthropic support was able to revitalize or “rebirth” the agriculture program to the new cutting edge of Precision Agriculture.
The Empirical Study on the Evolutionary Game Based Agricultural Products Supply Chain
Authors: Sun Jun , Xing Ruben
Published: July 2019

This research paper is to use a method of Evolutionary Game to investigate the relationship between a large supplier and a franchised supermarket in China. The authors would like to go through their empirical study with their filtered answers from the survey using SPSS software on agricultural supply chain for their quality safety factors. Their research is using factor analysis with five target factors which are: the excess return, cost, the relative size of cooperative enterprises, hitchhiking, and overflows income. Applying these factors to the evolutionary game model, analyze the earning status from the both players under their own policies, then make suggestions or proposals for quality and safety issues of agricultural supply chain management.
The Role of Mobile Phones Use on Agricultural Output and Household Income in Rural Rwanda
Authors: Musafiri Ildephonse
Published: July 2019

This paper assesses the role information and communication technology (ICT) on agricultural output and household welfare of smallholder farmers. The data used in this study comes from a household survey carried out in Nyabihu District, one densely populated area of rural Rwanda. The findings suggest substantial impact of cellular phones technology adoption by farm households. Using the propensity score matching technique, the author finds that agricultural output for mobile phone users is at least 38 percent higher than non-users, whereas their income levels are 26 percent higher on average. The provision of network infrastructure and electricity at community level will enhance agricultural and rural development through increased adoptions of telecommunication technology by smallholder farmers.
Biological Alchemy
Authors: Mamta  , Rao Rayavarapu Jaganadha , Dhar Anil , Wani Khursheed Ahmad
Published: July 2019

The story of garbage processing is changing globally and is being considered as a potential option in the hierarchy of integrated solid waste management that involves stabilization of organic material by the joint action of earthworms and microorganisms. Vermicomposting is an economically viable technique in which the job is done by certain species of earthworms that enhances the process of waste conversion and produces a better end product vermicompost. Vermicompost is highly nutritive fertilizer and more powerful growth promoter over the conventional compost. It is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium commonly referred as NPK, micronutrients, growth hormones and enzymes. Its commercialization is a good business opportunity and is emerging as an industry itself. The farmers need to raise the crops by organic farming that will reduce the cost and will decrease the impact on environment. The present chapter is an attempt to highlight different approaches of converting waste into vermicompost and the importance of vermicomposting as compared to synthetic fertilizers.
A Genetic Algorithm to Goal Programming Model for Crop Production With Interval Data Uncertainty
Authors: Pal Bijay Baran , Roy Sankhajit , Kumar Mousumi
Published: July 2019

This chapter presents how Genetic Algorithm (GA) is effectively employed to Goal Programming (GP) formulation of an agricultural planning problem having interval model parameters and a set of chance constraints for optimal production of seasonal crops in uncertain environment. In model formulation, the planned-interval goals associated with objectives of the problem are converted into their equivalent two-objective deterministic goals. The chance constraints are also converted into their deterministic equivalents to solve the problem by using GP methodology. In goal achievement function, minimization of deviational variables associated with model goals is evaluated on the basis of priorities by employing a GA scheme to reach optimal decision. In the decision process, sensitivity analysis with variations of priority structure of goals is performed, and then the notion of Euclidean distance function is used to identify the priority structure under which optimal production of crops can be obtained in the decision environment. A case example is considered to demonstrate the approach.
Economic Transformation of Austrian Agriculture Since EU Accession
Authors: Quendler Erika , Mayer Christina , Ortner Karl Michael
Published: July 2019

After joining the European Union (EU) in 1995 Austria adopted the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This chapter reviews the changes in agricultural production and the economic situation of agriculture since the accession to the EU. The analysis is primarily based on macro-economic data from the Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) over the period between 1995 and 2014. Select examples identify the developments applicable for Austria – also in comparison to other EU countries and groups of countries as well as to Switzerland. Expectations and forecasts regarding the consequences of integration, e.g. changes in the price levels, have been more or less fulfilled but there is a need for further research on the development of regions and on special issues such as the resilience of Austrian agriculture.
Economic Growth and Climate Change
Authors: Raghupathi Wullianallur , Raghupathi Viju
Published: July 2019

In this article, the authors use analytics to explore the association between economic growth and climate change at a country-level. They examine different indicators to better understand the macro issues and guide policy decision-making. The authors analyze global economic growth and climate change using the World Bank data of 131 countries and 16 indicators for the period 2005 to 2010. The analysis shows overall economic growth is positively associated with climate change. This implies country leaders should design and implement structured development plans if they are to promote economic growth to alleviate poverty while simultaneously mitigating climate change.
Characteristics Development of Agriculture and Agricultural Policy Southeast European Countries
Authors: Simonovic Zoran , Vukovic Predrag
Published: July 2019

In general the agricultural policy South East European countries are characterized by high volatility, which is expressed in terms of applied instruments and measures as well as in regard to the products to which it relates. In the first phase of price and trade liberalization, most countries have abolished or significantly reduced non-tariff barriers to the import and export of a wide range of products. Also, most countries have reduced or abolished production subsidies and left import tariffs as the main instrument to protect producers. This chapter emphasizes that the further development of CAP in many ways depended on negotiations with the countries of Southeast Europe. Some of these countries are already in the EU and some candidate countries which are at different levels of negotiation with the EU. Southeast European countries are basically agricultural country with low productivity and low prices of agricultural products to be completely restructured. These countries can be reintegrated into CAP only respect the rules and with the help of EU member states.
Trends and Transformations in European Agricultural Economy, Rural Communities and Food Sustainability in Context of New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reforms
Authors: Jean-Vasile Andrei , Alecu Alexandra
Published: July 2019

Agriculture continues to be quite a debate for the last two and a half decades at least at the European level and for Romania Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms has a big impact in developing the convergence to the European agricultural model. Agriculture becomes nowadays a multirole economic sector, with major implications on rural community's sustainability and on food security assurance. In this context, the transformations in European agricultural economy, rural communities and food sustainability in context of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms represent an important research topic in the context of EU-28 policy diversification from the larger context of Romanian approach.
Marketing of Agricultural Commodities in India
Authors: Arora Rakhi
Published: July 2019

Commodity market is a fast paced dynamic market with liquidity and Commodity Exchange providing a platform for trading in various agri and non agri commodities at nationalized exchanges for discovering the price of agricultural goods in India since 2003. This also provides an opportunity to farmers, manufacturers or individuals for hedging and arbitrage to minimizes the losses due to fluctuations in the futures as well as spot prices. Though the Government has taken many steps time to time to control the prices of listed commodities by imposing restrictions like imposing daily margin limits and banning futures trading in speculative commodity/commodities if required but it is still being questioned. This chapter emphasizes on the working of the National Level Commodity Exchanges in India in general, the share of major agricultural commodities traded across National Level Commodity Exchanges in India, the marketing mix for agricultural commodities in India and the benefits and challenges of commodity futures derivatives for investors in India.
Farmer Suicides in India
Authors: Jain Saloni , Sukhwani Khushboo
Published: July 2019

Indian farmers are facing a crisis of their extinction caused by their suicides. A suicide, every thirty minutes, reflects towards a deeply rooted structural and policy defect in the country. A defect so extreme that many call the same to be state genocide. The State has several obligations towards its farmers, both nationally and internationally. However, the pressures of globalization combined with the influence of bodies like the WTO and IMF has managed to defeat these obligations. This has resulted in a state where ideas like profit, free trade and removal of barriers are being forced upon ‘sovereign' States, who have allocated their power to decide on economic issues to supranational bodies due to their inability to operate in isolation like a Westphalian State. The aim of this chapter is to explore and elaborate upon the adverse consequences of globalization on the lives of farmers in India due to enhanced competition and policies which have been influenced by MNCs such as Monsanto and capitalist, north dominated supranational bodies like the WTO and World Bank.
Congo Basin's Shrinking Watersheds
Authors: Inogwabini Bila-Isia
Published: July 2019

Rainfall time series data from three sites (Kinshasa, Luki, and Mabali) in the western Democratic Republic of Congo were analyzed using regression analysis; rainfall intensities decreased in all three sites. The Congo Basin waters will follow the equation y = -20894x + 5483.16; R2 = 0.7945. The model suggests 18%-loss of the Congo Basin water volume and 7%-decrease for fish biomasses by 2025. Financial incomes generated by fishing will decrease by 11% by 2040 compared with 1998 levels. About 51% of women (N= 408,173) from the Lake Tumba Landscape fish; their revenues decreased by 11% between 2005 and 2010. If this trend continues, women's revenues will decrease by 59% by 2040. Decreased waters will severely impact women (e.g. increasing walking distances to clean waters). Increasing populations and decreasing waters will lead to immigrations to this region because water resources will remain available and highly likely ignite social conflicts over aquatic resources.
Managerial Reactions to Ambiguous Environmental Changes
Authors: Kittilaksanawong Wiboon
Published: July 2019

Managers in organizations are typically faced with changing and ambiguous signals in their operating environment. Based on interpretation of these signals, managers react with appropriate strategies. This chapter presents critical organizational issues in decision making process and its outcomes, including the manager's selective attention, interpretation, and reasoning of uncertain operating environment. In particular, the chapter first discusses why individual managers in the same organization who are faced with same environmental changes may differently interpret threat and opportunity aspects of these changes. Second, the chapter links outcomes of such interpretation to investigate different types of organizational actions. Third, the chapter drives into a greater depth to explore how the manager's experience and characteristics of the environment affect forms of reasoning in interpretation process and performance of subsequent organizational actions.
Study on Different Graphic Representations in Architectural Heritage
Authors: Garfella-Rubio José T. , Máñez-Pitarch Jesús , Martínez-Moya Joaquín A. , Gual-Ortí Jaume
Published: July 2019

In recent years, cutting-edge methods have emerged to gradually replace or be used with traditional methods to carry out graphic surveys of architectural heritage; modern topographic tools such as 3D scanners and specific software. In addition, the new technologies of additive printing and three-dimensional digital representations has made architectural heritage more accessible to the general public. The main objective of this study was to conduct an analysis of each of the methods, to determine their advantages and disadvantages, as well as to carry out a comparative study of the results obtained with each of them.
A Particle Swarm Optimization Approach for Minimizing GD&T Error in Additive Manufactured Parts
Authors: Pathak Vimal Kumar , Singh Amit Kumar
Published: July 2019

This paper presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach to improve the geometrical accuracy of additive manufacturing (AM) parts by minimizing geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) error. Four AM process parameters viz. Bed temperature, nozzle temperature, Infill, layer thickness are taken as input while circularity and flatness error in ABS part are taken as response. A mathematical model is developed for circularity and flatness error individually using regression technique in terms of process parameters as design variables. For the optimum search of the AM process parameter values, minimization of circularity and flatness are formulated as multi-objective, multi-variable optimization problem which is optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and hence improving the geometrical accuracy of the ABS part.
Trend and Development in Laser Surface Modification for Enhanced Materials Properties
Authors: Amuda Muhammed Olawale Hakeem , Akinlabi Esther Titilayo
Published: July 2019

This article presents a process review of the commonly available laser surface modification techniques for surface property enhancement. This is reinforced with the specific case treatment of research trends in relation to commonly treated materials. The progression from simple surface modification to the production of components with multifunctional characteristics known as functionally graded material is discussed in combination with emerging research focus on the computational simulation of laser surface modification for optimization of process dynamics.
Selection of Prototyping Process and Part Orientation for Virtually Manufactured Gears
Authors: Zindani Divya , Kumar Kaushik
Published: July 2019

This chapter explores transformation of a virtually produced gear to a physical product using rapid prototyping technique. The same can be segregated into two parts. The first being selection of the best possible rapid prototyping technique using dynamic mechanical analysis and the next was optimization of the process parameters of the selected rapid prototyping technique considering tensile strength as the criteria. The results indicated that fused deposition modeling process provides the best solution amongst the techniques studied. Moreover, as orientation of the product in rapid prototyping techniques plays an important role in providing the strength and also accuracy of the product profile, from results it was also ascertained that strength and profile accuracy of the product was optimized with horizontal position.
Complexity Analysis in Additive Manufacturing for the Production of Tissue Engineering Constructs
Authors: Jenab Kouroush , Weinsier Philip D.
Published: July 2019

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a process of making a Three-Dimensional (3D) solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model that is used for both prototyping and distributed manufacturing with applications in many fields, such as dental and medical industries and biotech (human tissue replacement). AM refers to technologies that create objects through a sequential layering process. AM processes have several primary areas of complexity that may not be measured precisely, due to uncertain situations. Therefore, this chapter reports an analytical model for evaluating process complexity that takes into account uncertain situations and additive manufacturing process technologies. The model is able to rank AM processes based on their relative complexities. An illustrative example for several processes is demonstrated in order to present the application of the model.
Knowledge Management Technologies, Applications, and Implementation in the Public Sector
Authors: Albastaki Yousif Abdullatif , Al-Alawi Adel Ismail , Albassam Sara Abdulrahman
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to emphasize the various but major aspects essential to advance knowledge management (KM) as nations progress and deal with the technological explosion that began during the early 1990s and upsurged dramatically ever since. The focus in this chapter, however, is the several ways in which technology was introduced, resisted, and finally accepted and adapted to, as well as the different ways it has and can still affect the industry in private and public sectors, negatively and positively. Through this literature review, different perceptions, opinions, solutions and suggestions are introduced to regulate the simultaneous coexistence of technology and people in the field of knowledge management development using articles from 1990s to 2018. A discussion is also introduced with supporting and opposing arguments in regard to the different perceptions the authors have proposed.
An Explorative Study of Knowledge-Transfer Mechanism
Authors: Masri Firas , Abdelrahman Mahmoud
Published: July 2019

The practice of the healthcare including treatment, policy planning and decisions, should be based on evidences (explicit) and experience (tacit) whenever possible. This might be achieved through investment in studying knowledge management (KM) in the healthcare practice. However, the studies of KM in practice and specifically in the healthcare are still limited, because literature keeps looking at KM from the angle of technological solution without considering KM functions from the social aspects. Thus, this chapter tries to provide an in-depth framework to a specific and fundamental function of the KM, which is knowledge transfer. This chapter proposes a conceptual framework of a multilevel process-based on enablers and barriers of KT mechanism. This chapter moderates the KT mechanism into five main elements related to characteristics of knowledge: source, recipient, relationships between them, tools, and context of the actual transfer. This model is conducted to notify the design and implementation of KT systems and mechanisms for public organizations, including healthcare.
Knowledge Management Practices in a Greek Public Sector Organization
Authors: Ismyrlis Vasileios
Published: July 2019

Knowledge management (KM) is a rather novice, but also a very highly appreciated, initiative in the field of management. Although initiated from the private sector, it seems that public organizations, having realized its significance, are in a continuous process of discovering its potential. Hence, many studies for KM implementation in the public sector have been already conducted; yet it seems this field needs to be further researched. In this research, a public organization in Greece called OAED, which is the main institution dealing with human resource's employment, was selected to be analyzed. A questionnaire was designed and addressed to the employees of OAED, and it included questions regarding KM and knowledge sharing activities, information and communications technology instruments used, motives, and the evaluation of the learning organization. The analysis of data proved that OAED exhibits a well-established status, regarding the creation and KS and the use of ICT tools.
The Efficacy of Spiritual Transcendence Scales Among Muslim Students in Malaysia
Authors: Fahm AbdulGafar Olawale , Bakare Kazeem Kayode
Published: July 2019

This chapter explores the efficacy of spiritual transcendence scales developed by Ralph L. Piedmont in his ASPIRES Manual. This study employs a quantitative approach to assess the spiritual transcendence scales among students in Malaysia. Over 250 questionnaires were distributed and filled online. Data collected from the questionnaires were analyzed to understand the dimension of spirituality. The findings reveal the scale remains reliable and structurally valid across gender, cultures, and religious contexts. The psychometric qualities of the spiritual transcendence scales were examined among Muslim students in Malaysia. The result demonstrated the structural validity and applicability of the scale within the group. It further provided further support for the cross-cultural applicability of the instrument and for the assumption of spirituality as a universal aspect of human experience.
Utilizing Internet Resources in TESOL
Authors: Hewagodage Vineetha
Published: July 2019

Advancements in digital communication technology (DCT) have significant potential to impact on language teaching and learning by providing new pedagogical opportunities accessible via the internet. Resources that support the design of English language learning and formative assessment have been seen as a fundamental component of the English language learning environments in English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS) and the like. While its importance is universally recognized, the facilitation of a move from the traditional approach to languages learning to a more contemporary approach in keeping with social constructivist theory remains a challenge for both teachers and learners. Part of this challenge involves the need for teachers to reconceptualize the way that they teach to move away from the teacher as instructor to that of facilitator whose pedagogical approach ensures students have opportunities to use English for meaningful purposes. Since this demands an understanding of students' different proficiency levels and the ability to monitor improvement to ensure learning experiences are at the optimum level to facilitate growth, effective formative assessment practices are a vital monitoring tool. Thus, this chapter examines how internet resources can move pedagogy towards a social constructivist approach to improving English language learning bearing in mind the need for a framework to support formative assessment in the monitoring of improvements in proficiency.