bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection Criteria in Regime Switching Conditional Volatility Models
Authors: Chuffart Thomas
Published: May 2015

A large number of nonlinear conditional heteroskedastic models have been proposed in the literature. Model selection is crucial to any statistical data analysis. In this article, we investigate whether the most commonly used selection criteria lead to choice of the right specification in a regime switching framework. We focus on two types of models: the Logistic Smooth Transition GARCH and the Markov-Switching GARCH models. Simulation experiments reveal that information criteria and loss functions can lead to misspecification ; BIC sometimes indicates the wrong regime switching framework. Depending on the Data Generating Process used in the experiments, great care is needed when choosing a criterion.
A Flexible Power Electronics Configuration for Coupling Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Filippini Mattia , Molinas Marta , Oregi Eneko
Published: May 2015

A combination of series, parallel and multilevel power electronics has been investigated as a potential interface for two different types of renewable energy sources and in order to reach higher power levels. Renewable energy sources are typically dispersed in a territory, and sources, like wind and solar, allow small to medium-scale generation of electricity. The configuration investigated in this article aims at adapting the coupling solution to the specific generation characteristics of the renewable energy source to make it fit the electrical network. The configuration consists of a combination of three-phase multilevel converters and single-phase inverters, which are designed to provide flexibility, high power quality and high efficiency. A detailed analysis and simulation is performed to identify the properties in conjunction with the electrical grid requirements and the potential challenges encountered during operation. An optimized operation example of wind generation combined with solar PV generation is presented to exemplify the flexibility and benefits of the proposed configuration.
Sin and Addiction: Conceptual Enemies or Fellow Travelers?
Authors: Mercadante Linda
Published: May 2015

The addiction recovery metaphor of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the sin/salvation metaphor of Protestant heritage have a lot more in common than people realize. On the surface, of course, it seems that the addiction recovery process is quite the opposite of what is assumed to be a religious approach to addiction. Many assume that religion takes a moralistic or judgmental attitude to addiction, focusing on intentional wrong-doing, lack of will power, or sin, i.e., offending God, self and others. Instead, from a theological perspective, sin and addiction are not the opposites generally assumed. The identification of alienation from God, and the focus on spirituality and healing are core issues for both concepts. Understanding this congruence can facilitate a very productive conversation between theologians, religious believers, and recovering persons.
Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine
Authors: Busch Peter
Published: May 2015

Only with difficulty do modern readers grasp the full import of Augustine’s confession, “Restless is our heart, until it rests in you”, or seriously consider that it might be true. An unexpected remedy is to be found in reading Thomas Hobbes, who introduces and defends the view of happiness that is now commonly accepted without argument. According to Hobbes, human beings find their happiness not in a single, supreme good but in many objects, the securing of which requires a lifelong quest for power. But this teaching, influential and revealing though it is, fails to satisfy. Meditating on that dissatisfaction is a first step towards more serious engagement with Augustine.
Development of 23 polymorphic microsatellite loci in invasive silver wattle, Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae)
Authors: Guillemaud Thomas , Broadhurst Linda , Legoff Isabelle , Henery Martin , Blin Aurélie , Ducatillion Catherine , Ferrando Nathalie , Malausa Thibaut
Published: May 2015

Premise of the study:

Microsatellite markers were developed for silver wattle, Acacia dealbata (Fabaceae), which is both an ornamental and an invasive weed species. It is native to southeastern Australia and invasive in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Methods and Results:

The pyrosequencing of a microsatellite‐enriched genomic DNA library of A. dealbata produced 33,290 sequences and allowed the isolation of 201 loci with a minimum of seven repeats of microsatellite motifs. Amplification tests led to the setup of two multiplex PCR mixes allowing the amplification of 21 loci. The polymorphism of these markers was evaluated on a sample of 32 individuals collected in southeastern Australia. The number of alleles and the expected heterozygosity varied between two and 11, and between 0.11 and 0.88, respectively.

Conclusions:

The level of polymorphism of this set of 23 microsatellites is large enough to provide valuable information on the genetic structure and the invasion history of A. dealbata.
Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci in soapbark, Quillaja saponaria (Quillajaceae)
Authors: Letelier Luis , Harvey Nick , Valderrama Aly , Stoll Alexandra , González‐Rodríguez Antonio
Published: May 2015

Premise of the study:

Microsatellite primers were developed for the endemic Chilean tree Quillaja saponaria (Quillajaceae), a common member of the sclerophyllous Mediterranean forest, to investigate intraspecific patterns of genetic diversity and structure.

Methods and Results:

Using an enriched library, 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed in Q. saponaria. All loci consisted of dinucleotide repeats. The average number of alleles per locus was 5.3 (2–13), with a total of 64 alleles recorded in 39 individuals from three populations.

Conclusions:

The microsatellite markers described here are the first characterized for Q. saponaria. The polymorphic loci will be useful in studies of genetic diversity and genetic population differentiation in natural populations of this species.
Electrical characterization of single molecule and Langmuir–Blodgett monomolecular films of a pyridine-terminated oligo(phenylene-ethynylene) derivative
Authors: Osorio Henrry Marcelo , Martín Santiago , López María Carmen , Marqués-González Santiago , Higgins Simon J , Nichols Richard J , Low Paul J , Cea Pilar
Published: May 2015

Monolayer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of 1,4-bis(pyridin-4-ylethynyl)benzene (1) together with the “STM touch-to-contact” method have been used to study the nature of metal–monolayer–metal junctions in which the pyridyl group provides the contact at both molecule–surface interfaces. Surface pressure vs area per molecule isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy images indicate that1forms true monolayers at the air–water interface. LB films of1were fabricated by deposition of the Langmuir films onto solid supports resulting in monolayers with surface coverage of 0.98 × 10−9mol·cm−2. The morphology of the LB films that incorporate compound1was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM images indicate the formation of homogeneous, monomolecular films at a surface pressure of transference of 16 mN·m−1. The UV–vis spectra of the Langmuir and LB films reveal that1forms two dimensional J-aggregates. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), in particular the “STM touch-to-contact” method, was used to determine the electrical properties of LB films of1. From these STM studies symmetricalI–Vcurves were obtained. A junction conductance of 5.17 × 10−5G0results from the analysis of the pseudolinear (ohmic) region of theI–Vcurves. This value is higher than that of the conductance values of LB films of phenylene-ethynylene derivatives contacted by amines, thiols, carboxylate, trimethylsilylethynyl or acetylide groups. In addition, the single moleculeI–Vcurve of1determined using theI(s) method is in good agreement with theI–Vcurve obtained for the LB film, and both curves fit well with the Simmons model. Together, these results not only indicate that the mechanism of transport through these metal–molecule–metal junctions is non-resonant tunneling, but that lateral interactions between molecules within the LB film do not strongly influence the molecule conductance. The results presented here complement earlier studies of single molecule conductance of1using STM-BJ methods, and support the growing evidence that the pyridyl group is an efficient and effective anchoring group in sandwiched metal–monolayer–metal junctions prepared under a number of different conditions.
Le clonage embryonnaire humain à visée scientifique
Authors: de Longeaux Jacques
Published: May 2015

L’instruction Dignitas personae enseigne que le clonage humain est intrinsèquement illicite, en précisant que le « clonage thérapeutique » est plus grave au plan éthique que le « clonage reproductif » (n. 28-30). L’argumentation repose sur le respect qui est dû à la vie humaine dès la conception. Dans cet article nous discutons la position selon laquelle l’embryon humain qui serait créé par transfert de noyau pour la recherche ne serait pas une vie humaine, mais seulement un agrégat de cellules. Nous montrons que le mal moral du « clonage scientifique » provient, non seulement de l’instrumentalisation et de la destruction d’embryons humains, mais aussi de leur production asexuée.
Construire et évaluer des savoirs incertains
Authors: Divert Nicolas
Published: May 2015

En France, la mode est présentée généralement sous son versant le plus prestigieux, la haute couture. Ce faisant, ce secteur d’activité se distingue par ses activités à forte valeur ajoutée et singulièrement la création. Cette dernière devient un enjeu, symbole de la mutation qui s’est imposée au système scolaire. Il s’est alors trouvé dans l’obligation d’ajuster son offre de formation et de proposer des cursus spécialisés dans la création. Cet article se propose d’appréhender l’élaboration d’un référentiel de certification lié à une certification de stylisme. Outil de formalisation des attentes en termes de savoirs et savoir-faire à acquérir, le référentiel permet de saisir les difficultés inhérentes à la scolarisation de ces apprentissages.
La féminisation du travail artistique à l’aune des réseaux sociaux
Authors: Buscatto Marie
Published: May 2015

Alors que les règles légales limitant l’accès des femmes aux mondes de l’art ont été levées dans les pays occidentaux, les univers artistiques restent moins accueillants pour les femmes que pour les hommes. Les travaux empiriques récents sur les différences sexuées dans le travail artistique révèlent que les processus sociaux produisant de telles difficultés au fil des carrières féminines sont multiples. Si les femmes artistes transgressent toujours plus les frontières, leurs chances d’entrée, de reconnaissance et de maintien dans ces univers restent inférieures à celles de leurs collègues hommes. Cet article sera l’occasion de revenir sur l’un de ces processus majeurs, le poids spécifique des réseaux sociaux dans la construction de différences sexuées dans les différents mondes de l’art occidentaux. Sera repérée de manière plus spécifique la place que peuvent jouer les réseaux sociaux dans la construction des trajectoires sexuées des artistes dans les divers mondes de l’art, de l’entrée dans l’activité à la construction d’une réputation artistique.
MOOCs and the Art Studio
Authors: Errey Howard , McPherson Megan J
Published: May 2015

The challenges of MOOCs are currently a significant issue for universities. New contexts of openness, massiveness and collaboration on the Web are challenging traditional forms of university education delivery. These challenges are catalysts for change both generally and in studio pedagogies in particular. This chapter focus on how disruption caused to traditional art studio teaching models occur through intersection with MOOC activity. The provision of studio arts subjects by MOOC providers is also shown to be innovative for MOOC design and delivery. The authors show these challenges by drawing on their participation in two arts based MOOCs, The Art of Photography and Practice Based Research in the Arts. The MOOC pedagogies of openness, massiveness and collaboration, provide opportunities inherent in studio-based arts delivery which contemporary MOOC platforms rarely achieve. The authors draw into question potential frameworks for evaluating choosing and designing contemporary MOOC activity. This chapter falls within the ‘policy issues in MOOCs design' with specific relevance for the topic of ‘technology and change management for the MOOCs environment'.
What is Best for the Learner?
Authors: Bagley Carole A. , Weisenford Janet
Published: May 2015

Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs are increasing in use by universities, corporations and other organizations. The quality of instruction and learning is an ongoing topic of debate as to whether MOOCs are effective for learning. What is best for the learner is determined by multiple factors. This chapter looks at what is best for the learner and whether MOOCs are the answer. The authors examine each of the factors that impact what is best for the learner. Each of the factors (accessibility, cost to the learner, quality of instructional design, learner performance, and acquiring on-line collaboration methods and resources) are described and are followed by a discussion of the issues, controversies and problems associated with each factor. This chapter takes up the discussion on the book section ‘RIA and education practice of MOOCs,' with the particular focus on the topic of ‘educational training design.'
MOOCs in Initial Teacher Training
Authors: López Carlos Monge , Hernández Patricia Gomez , Saborido David Montalvo
Published: May 2015

The main aim of this research is to understand future teachers' attitudes, knowledge and needs about Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These courses may be a supplementary resource in higher education that can fill fields of knowledge which the curriculum could not encompass. In addition, this type of course can contribute significantly to both initial and continuing teacher training. For this reason, understanding students' perspectives on MOOCs is essential. For this reason a questionnaire was administered to students of the Bachelor in Teaching of Childhood Education, Bachelor in Teaching of Primary Education and Master in Training Teachers of Secondary Education (n=145). The results indicate that a large part of the sample confirm not that they do not know anything about MOOCs. The chapter concludes that universities need to train future teachers in MOOC culture. Keeping the focus on the book section “RIA and education practice of MOOCs”, this chapter provides a valuable research insight into the topic of “educational training design.”
Challenges about MOOCs in Teacher Training
Authors: Hernández Patricia Gómez , López Carlos Monge , Barrera Alba García
Published: May 2015

MOOCs seem to be a good way to deliver training to a large number of teachers and to facilitate their professional development in those areas whose skills are scarce, requires an update or needs further deepening. In this chapter a test is carried out to make an approach to the current state of affairs, taking sample students from an on-site university and an open university. This study also allows investigating if there may be differences between both groups. Using case studies, a questionnaire was administered to 37 pre-service teachers, showing a relative great knowledge about MOOCs by participants. In conclusion, the studied universities must design, develop and divulgate these courses as a pedagogical resource for initial and continuous teacher training. This chapter completes the book section with discussion on research involving ‘RIA and education practice of MOOCs', as such it provides a fitting commentary for the topic of ‘educational training design'.
Introduction to Academic Entrepreneurship
Authors: Lewandowski Mateusz
Published: May 2015

The aim of the chapter is to provide practitioners and researchers, who wish to investigate academic entrepreneurship in details, with the basic characteristics of the phenomenon as an introduction to further exploration. As university entrepreneurship is rooted in the broader entrepreneurship theory, the investigation encompassed a set of definitions, types, and processes pertaining to both industrial and academic context. It also provides an examination into the effectiveness of the policy-driven approach in enhancing academic entrepreneurship. This study has been conducted on the basis of the literature review and inductive argumentation, leading to the formulation of a conceptual framework for university entrepreneurship. The key finding is that although the classic forms of academic entrepreneurship, such as organizational creation, renewal, and innovation fit to the academic context, they are not sufficient to reflect the variety of all the forms. In turn, a new definition of university entrepreneurship is provided.
Historically Reading the Concept of Gender by the Dilemma of Heterodox-Orthodox Vision
Authors: Akansel Ilkben
Published: May 2015

In this chapter, the authors analyze the concept of gender and its history; they look at the crisis that is caused by this concept in terms of both orthodox economy and the heterodox economy. A wide range of feminist economics arguments are considered. Feminist economics arguments correspond to the points of Antonio Gramsci's “hegemony” and Louis Althusser's “ideology.” Starting with both philosophers' concepts, the authors explicate the dilemma of orthodox-heterodox economics. First, they discuss the vision of heterodox-orthodox economics. Then, they discuss how technology becomes an important part of orthodox economics, and through the aforementioned philosophers, they discuss what would happen in the economic system if this situation changes.
Perceptions and Framing of Risk, Uncertainty, Loss, and Failure in Entrepreneurship
Authors: Green Kimberly M.
Published: May 2015

Research indicates that perceptions of risk and loss affect decision-making. Entrepreneurship presents a context in which risk, failure, and loss frequently frame decisions. This paper presents a review of the entrepreneurship literature that is grounded in Kahneman and Tversky's 1979 article on prospect theory. The theory's contribution to the understanding of how the framing of losses affects decisions offers a useful foundation for considering streams of research in entrepreneurship and small business, given that the prospects for loss and failure are high in these endeavors. This review identifies 79 articles and organizes them into four broad themes: risk-taking perspectives of the entrepreneur and stakeholders, aspirations and reference points, organizational innovation and change, and learning from failure. The review concludes by considering the future research potential in the topics of regret, mental accounting, and an understanding of competitors.
ICT and Building a Knowledge-Based Society in Egypt
Authors: Rizk Nagla , Kamel Sherif
Published: May 2015

This article aims to evaluate Egypt's progress on the road towards a knowledge society. The paper discusses the evolution and assesses the outcomes of ICT initiatives in place in Egypt. Equally, the paper analyzes the status and potential of factors that are necessary for the realization of such a society at this turning point in the country's history. The paper pinpoints the progress achieved on many fronts and identifies necessary steps to match leading knowledge and digital societies. The paper suggests some useful strategies for the government to expand access and contribution to knowledge – promoting a shared knowledge society in co-operation with the private sector in order to bridge the gaps. Efforts should not only be focused on expanding and enhancing connectivity and technology, but should also promote content development, provide educational opportunities and foster a comprehensive enabling environment.
Social Entrepreneurial e-Empowerment
Authors: Morales-Gutiérrez Alfonso C. , Ariza-Montes J. Antonio , Muniz Noel M.
Published: May 2015

Muhammad Yunus, micro-lending advocate and founder of the Bank of the Poor, defines social enterprises as doing business to solve social, economic, and environmental adversities. The complexity of today global context hinders the emergence of innovative endeavors; this inner enhancement of capabilities springs out from worldwide entrepreneurs that reveal procuring the best environmental conditions and technologies to nourish new ingenious ventures whether of social or any capitalist profile. Social entrepreneurs noticeably understand that making an intensive use of new technologies engenders innovation and scales impact effects in society; that is why ICTs, and especially the Web 2.0, have constituted catalysts to accelerate collaborations for social change: social innovation labs, social e-enterprise incubators, social innovation centers, social innovation park, et cetera. This chapter reviews the main experiences of social entrepreneurial empowerments, pinpointing those pioneering projects that exploit new technologies to provide services and get access, with no boundaries, to a significant number of communities. It is structured as follows: it starts analyzing the emergence and development of social enterprise, its encouragement and empowerment. Later, some key initiatives for social entrepreneurs are examined, in particular those offered virtually (e-empowerment). The chapter concludes with a brief summary of final thoughts.
Environmental Turbulence and Complexity and the Optimal Degree of Internal Open Innovation for MNCs
Authors: Hausberg J. Piet , Valentino Alfredo , Sabini Luca
Published: May 2015

In today's knowledge economy, it is vital for Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) to leverage all their globally dispersed knowledge resources. Extant literature argues that MNCs can be viewed as knowledge sharing networks and that knowledge exchange within the group enhances performance. This exploration of new knowledge through search among peer subsidiaries of the parent MNC can be regarded as Internal Open Innovation (IOI). However, literature on Open Innovation is largely focused on the external boundary of the firm, so that little can be said on whether openness towards corporate group internal knowledge sources is either or both, beneficial and/or detrimental, and how this depends on the difference of national industries and on the correct communication of these before the final transfer of knowledge. The principal research question thus is: To what degree should MNC subsidiaries be open to their intra-MNC peers given a common, evolving technological environment but different local market contexts? In this paper, the authors contribute with new propositions regarding this issue developed based on results from an agent-based model that is analyzed through computer simulation. The authors explore the degree of openness of MNC subsidiaries together with their communication competence in different organizational structures and environments, based on previous developments in theory of knowledge transfer and complexity as well as international business.
Incremental and Radical Service Innovation in Living Labs
Authors: Leminen Seppo , Westerlund Mika
Published: May 2015

Living labs provide a new, under researched form of open innovation. Although open innovation is increasingly popular in service development, extant literature lacks knowledge of different open service innovation strategies, which companies can employ. This chapter focuses on strategies that firms can take in co-creating service innovations through living labs. The authors found nine open service innovation strategies based on an analysis of 26 living labs in four countries. Understanding of strategies and their links with incremental or radical innovation outcomes aid managers to set up an efficient innovation management. Knowledge of various strategies helps companies to succeed in service development and innovation novelty assessment based on the characteristics of the living lab.
Mapping the Knowledge Supply Chain to Foster Innovation
Authors: Bellantuono Nicola , Pontrandolfo Pierpaolo , Scozzi Barbara
Published: May 2015

Knowledge Supply Chains (KSCs) are the networks that provide knowledge supplies so nourishing one or more business processes carried out by a firm. KSCs are particularly crucial for innovation development processes. The need to recur to open KSCs during the accomplishment of such processes is indeed emphasized by the recent literature on open innovation (Kirschbaum, 2005; Chesbrough, 2006; Gassman, 2006; Van de Vrande et al., 2009). However, as scholars adopt different definitions of openness and stress different practices, it is not clear what open really means (Dahlander and Gann, 2010). Research is called for to further classify the different practices and, above all, to measure the impact of open vs. closed innovation so as to support companies in the identification of the right balance (Enkel et al., 2009). In the paper a methodology to map and analyze KSCs arising during an innovation development process is proposed. The methodology is described with specific reference to New Product Development (NPD) which is widely common as well as strategic in many firms. The methodology supports the characterization of the knowledge supplies (also in terms of the adopted collaboration approach) and the assessment of their criticality within the NPD process. Hence, it (1) contributes to make the concept of openness clearer and (2) provide companies with a clear picture of the process and its criticalities.
Information Strategy as Enabler of Competitive Advantage
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: May 2015

Technology has been continuously improving, causing high business pressures that affect organizations' current and future competitiveness. Gaining competitive advantage is critical for organizations. Among the various resources which organizations deploy to succeed, information is identified as a crucial resource. The success of organizations depends on the decisions made and the excellence of decisions depends upon the quality and reliability of information. If this be so, then information strategies need to be designed and implemented in a comprehensive manner so that the organizations derive competitive advantage. Based on an in-depth literature review and contextual analysis, this paper will review competitive forces and competitive information systems strategies for gaining competitive advantages, explain concepts of value chain, business ecosystems and discuss innovation strategy.
Successful Internet Entrepreneurs Don't Have To Be College Dropouts
Authors: Zhang Sonya
Published: May 2015

Some of today's most successful Internet entrepreneurs didn't graduate from college. Many young people today followed the same path to pursue their dreams however ended up failing, not a surprise because 80% of the startups fail in first 5 years. As technology innovation and market competition on Internet continue to accelerate, college students need guidance and support more urgently now than ever before. Meanwhile most entrepreneurship programs offered in colleges and universities provide only general strategy-innovation-finance guidance for broad entrepreneurship while lack concentration on online startups or connection to Internet technology. We proposed a technology-business-environment model that could help guide universities in nurturing, building, and shaping their students' dreams and goals towards creating a successful Internet startup business. Finally, we demonstrated a course outline for an Internet entrepreneurship course designed for undergraduate students. Such course can be used as a core course in an entrepreneurship program or an elective course in Information Systems (IS), other sub-disciplines of computing programs, or business programs.
Women's Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh
Authors: Rabbani Golam , Chowdhury Solaiman
Published: May 2015

Women's entrepreneurship is important for women's position in society and for economic development of a country. It opens up new avenues for creating employment opportunities for women and men. It is a matter of encouraging that a good number of women are contributing in the economic progress of Bangladesh, making them involved in medium and small enterprises. In this process, policy-related factors and institutional factors play a vital role. Government agencies provide policy, legal, and financial support, taking active support from non-state actors. Specially, NGOs have been working in Bangladesh from 1980s to create a viable social environment for business women. Though more women are now involved in economic activities than in the past, women constitute less than 10 percent of the country's total business entrepreneurs. Women do business in a masculine society where they encounter policy-related problems, and they do not get proper supports from all respective institutions because of corruption and lack of information. It is assumed that combined initiatives of government and non-government institutes will be successful in encountering the changes of business women in Bangladesh.
Kama Group Limited
Authors: Andoh-Quainoo Lydia
Published: May 2015

Family businesses and entrepreneurship research has grown but with few studies in Africa. This case study fills that gap in the research on entrepreneurship and family business cases in the African continent. The case is explored to assess the motivation and challenges influencing entrepreneurial startup businesses and founders of family businesses. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection, the research confirms some differences and similarities in the motivational factors and challenges associated with starting a business in an African context, specifically Ghanaian. This entrepreneur's family business encountered a number of challenges in its startup. However, due to strong mental attributes such as personal motivation, persistence, commitment, and hard work, he has overcome these challenges and grown the business successfully. Although environmental challenges may be greater in an emerging economy such as Ghana, personal attributes can play a key role in building and sustaining a successful family business.
Anointed Electrical Engineering Services Limited
Authors: Appiah-Kubi Seth
Published: May 2015

There is lack of data on entrepreneurial successes in Africa. While there have been numerous research studies on entrepreneurship and family businesses in many regions of the world, there has been relatively little research done in the African context. This lack of research on entrepreneurial success in Africa is due to a variety of reasons such as the fact that most are relatively young and journals are typically housed in universities in developed economies. This chapter describes the success story of a family business in Africa. Specifically, this study sets out to determine the context of starting a family business in Africa: the motivation, type of business, family involvement and the mental attributes, and the challenges in starting and running a family business. Finally, this study recounts some of the lessons from the challenges and successes of the entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship Factor in Institutional Development
Authors: Ebenezer Eva Esther Shalin , Adei Timothy W. Y. A.
Published: May 2015

In 2000, The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) was a government subvented institution on the verge of collapse and threatened by privatization. In less than a decade, GIMPA has achieved over a 2000% increase in turnover and become the second university in Africa to meet the conditions for membership in the Association of African Business Schools. Now ranked among the top business schools in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is the only public university in Ghana that is self-financed. It has built the largest business school faculty in the country and become the first institution in Ghana to run degree top-up programmes for HND holders. What made GIMPA so unique, especially in this area of institutional development? This chapter tries to unearth the success story from a researcher's point of view and unveil the importance of entrepreneurship in institutional transformation.
Improving Lives through Mobility
Authors: Misra Kaustav
Published: May 2015

Researchers must acknowledge that entrepreneurship studies could and should be carried out at multiple levels of analysis—conceptual, empirical, and practical frameworks. The authors argue that practical level analysis is critical but valuable, since the reasons for studying entrepreneurship in the practical level lies in the characteristics of the entrepreneurial phenomenon itself. Every entrepreneur is different, so it makes more sense to know them individually, and in this chapter, the authors attempt to discuss a case study on a how a successful entrepreneurial family has been running their business for half a century. While discussing mental entrepreneurial motivations, women entrepreneurs, copreneurs, and young entrepreneurs in this case study, they also focus on the external and internal challenges these entrepreneurs are facing on a daily basis. At the end, this case study makes recommendations for the prospective entrepreneur.
Towards Convergence in European Higher Education through Open Innovation
Authors: Coraş Eliza Laura , Tanţãu Adrian Dumitru
Published: May 2015

Universities are considered the main sources of innovation; yet, in practice, their potential as collaboration partners in the scope of innovation creation is underexplored, being last mentioned by firms as collaborators. Moreover, firms' innovation policies tend to change their focus by driving success more often from collaboration with universities. Given the direct influence of quality of higher education on the capacity of the business sector to innovate, in this chapter the authors address the issue of collaborating with higher education institutions through open innovation by fostering university-industry collaboration and a more entrepreneurial mindset in universities. The authors offer evidence from European universities in order to illustrate the benefits of such partnerships and also the barriers that hamper the open innovation objectives by applying a risk management perspective. Furthermore, they explore with examples how Romanian universities take this path of collaboration.
A Comparative Study of Teachers' and Engineering Students' Enterprise 3.0 Application in Entrepreneurship
Authors: Ahrens Andreas , Bassus Olaf , Zaščerinska Jeļena
Published: May 2015

Everyone may at some stage need to become an entrepreneur or to display entrepreneurial behaviour or to have the opportunity of creating his/her own business regardless of background or location (EU Commission, 2004). Efficient business is shaped by such an essential factor as Enterprise 3.0 application in entrepreneurship. The aim of this chapter is to analyse teachers' and engineering students' Enterprise 3.0 application in entrepreneurship, underpinning elaboration of a hypothesis on the integration of teachers' and engineering students' Enterprise 3.0 application into teacher training and engineering education for efficient entrepreneurship. The meaning of key concepts of enterprise, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, Enterprise 3.0, and Enterprise 3.0 application is studied. Exploratory research of the comparative study has been used. The empirical study included teachers' and students' case studies. Descriptive statistics were implemented for primary data analysis. The findings allow drawing the conclusions on the teachers' and engineering students' Enterprise 3.0 application in entrepreneurship. A hypothesis is proposed.
Entrepreneurship Education at Mtech, University of Maryland
Authors: Green James V. , Barbe David F.
Published: May 2015

As universities recognize that an entrepreneurial education is an enabler, entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as higher education's ally. Today, more than 5,000 entrepreneurship courses are offered in over 2,000 college and universities in the United States (U.S.) (Kauffman, 2009). Entrepreneurship education is extending beyond its traditional business school offerings to engineering, arts, and sciences schools as educators develop specialized, experiential content most relevant to their student populations. The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), a unit of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, is a global leader in entrepreneurship education (Barbe, Green, & Chang, 2010). Mtech's award-winning programs are being replicated throughout the U.S. and abroad to serve entrepreneurial students in pursuit of new ventures. Mtech's entrepreneurship courses and programs have more than 1,000 student enrollments annually. This chapter introduces Mtech's approach to entrepreneurship education, defines the inner workings of Mtech's entrepreneurship education initiatives, and discusses best practices and lessons learned.
A Standardized Marketing Audit Model for Entrepreneurship Education in Egypt
Authors: Abou-Warda Sherein H.
Published: May 2015

Entrepreneurship education (EPE) plays a vital role to enhance employment creation and reduce poverty. Marketing audit is a main tool for evaluating and improving the marketing performance in a manufacturing or service sector. Despite the vast amount of literature which emphasizes entrepreneurship education, no empirical studies address the marketing audit model for EPE in the higher education sector. This study aims to develop a standardized marketing audit model for the EPE at higher education generally, business schools specially. A total of 200 participants were chosen by a purposive judgmental sampling technique from the only two universities which took steps towards establishing EPE in Egypt. A descriptive survey method using a questionnaire, focus group, semi-structured interviews and workshops were employed to develop a standardized model. The results showed the importance of the six dimensions in a standardized marketing audit model for EPE at business schools in Egypt.
Chaotic Essence inside the Organizational Reality
Authors: Cakar Ulas , Alakavuklar Ozan Nadir
Published: May 2015

In the chaotic reality of the human civilizations, organizations were always seen as bastions of order. Even in the extreme cases of organizations that sought to bring chaos and confusion, their purpose was generally to clear the present situation and bring a new order. Except the cases of some extreme sects and marginal crime organizations, almost all organizations strive to bring their own existential definitions of order. In this process, management has been the tool of bringing order to organization. Even though modern management is a relatively new concept, all through the history the elements of management such as superior-subordinate relation, persuasion, direction, and administration were seen (Starbuck, 2003; Wren, 2004). But underneath the idealistic goal of bringing order, all organizations are suffering from the chaotic essence that is in their midst. In the organizational theory literature, this chaotic essence is either ignored or it is treated as a problem of good implementation of managerial control. And this problem has been treated in a surprisingly linear way whereas non-linearity of the organizational reality is not considered.
Critical Review of Academic Entrepreneurship in India
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: May 2015

Academic Entrepreneurship in the last three decades has risen to greater heights. There are various reasons, too. India's education sector has been undergoing sea changes in these decades. Every state has been opening up, and there has been a plethora of institutions established. In the process, India has earned itself a reputation of a brainpower generator. Academic entrepreneurship in India has played a seminal role in accomplishing this status. The chapter aims to provide a critical review of academic entrepreneurship in India. It will give an analysis between different entrepreneurs, demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of education policy based on observations, bring out the factors that have key impact on the growth of academic entrepreneurship, their performance, as well as the best practices are discussed to pave way in understanding the academic entrepreneurship, which is of both theoretical and practical importance for both developed and developing countries.
Chaos and Complexity in Financial Statements
Authors: Juárez Fernando
Published: May 2015

Conceptual issues and the basis for the use of financial statements from the perspective of complexity and chaos are proposed. After analyzing the implications that these perspectives have for financial statements, basic accounting equation is examined from the view of complex logic through the mechanisms of the circumscription. Besides, the phase spaces arising from the relationship between indicators of financial health, such as total assets, stakeholder's equity, profit and loss, or cash flow at end of year, are analyzed; also, the relationship among ratios of sustainability, liquidity, and profitability is revisited. The management discussion & analysis and notes to financial statements sections of financial statements are subjected to new interpretations, based on the beliefs logic and complex and chaotic metaphorical narratives. Finally, a critical perspective on the use of chaos and complexity in the analysis of financial statements is introduced.
Web-Based Services and Future Business Models
Authors: Ndou Valentina , Del Vecchio Pasquale , Passiante Giuseppina , Schina Laura
Published: May 2015

A paradigm shift is taking place today that provides a compelling value proposition for organizations and requires the adoption of new business models for the management of their core activities in a competitive way. The new emerging business models are related with open innovation, cloud computing approach, as well as social networking, which creates opportunities for firms to harvest the resources and knowledge that could be found outside the firm's boundaries. However, in order for firms to grasp most of the emerging technologies, they should reconfigure their activities to tackle the challenge and opportunity presented by new innovations and technology trends. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate the changes that these new trends are witnessing for the business models of firms from a provider and user perspective.
Government 2.0
Authors: Pankowska Malgorzata
Published: May 2015

E-Government and e-Democracy system development is enabled by Internet technology. The implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) accelerates the transformation of government institutions and their methods of operations. The use of ICTs at municipality institutions not only opens up possibilities for improving services to citizens and businesses, but also increases their involvement in local community governance. The general objective of this chapter is to reveal, at the municipality level, the opportunity for local community development and stronger citizen involvement in governing processes (e-Democracy). The chapter aims to present the new sources of knowledge, particularly through the involvement of individuals in local government development. The chapter aims to understand challenges in developing open information infrastructures that support municipality innovation and development. The chapter utilizes extensive literature reviews and the analysis of the content of selected e-Government portals to inform its positions.
The Future of Library Services in the Digital Economy
Authors: Chipembele Matuka
Published: May 2015

Libraries may be on the verge of a revolutionary phase of integrating technology in all their services in order for them to become effective information providers in the digital economy. In much of the literature on the potential of ICTs in academic libraries, it is argued that advancements in ICTs are changing the way people are accessing and using information. Hence, integration of ICTs in library services is necessary if libraries are to effectively provide information at anytime and anywhere. This chapter seeks to address this issue with a focus on the Copperbelt University library in Kitwe, Zambia. The chapter reviews various similar sources that looked at technology and its impact on library services. Additionally, in the African context, there has been massive adoption of Internet-enabled technologies. For example many people have smart phones such as Blackberries, Samsung, Nokia and Apple iPhones, which enable them access Internet ubiquitously. The emergence of these technologies and their abilities to provide tailor made applications for pervasive access to information resources entails that even library content may now be provided on electronic platforms. Whereas the rest of the world has done a substantial amount towards electronic library systems, not much has been done in Africa. Despite such challenges, libraries are taking steps in modernizing their services in an effort to fully satisfy the ever-changing needs of their information users. Additionally, recommendations on what libraries ought to do in order for them to bridge the widening gap in terms of how people are accessing and using information are given.
Mobile Health Technology in the US
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Tridib , Zadeh Bahman
Published: May 2015

ICT technologies like the Internet, mobile telephony, and other enabled handheld gadgets have penetrated our lives in an unprecedentedly disruptive fashion. Explosive computing and communicating power with ever-decreasing price of service over the passage of time have been the hallmark of this success. The success of these technologies has been effectively appropriated in many business processes and systems including the banking sector and the social media applications. However, in spite of having stupendous potential in the healthcare sector, especially in providing access to service for patients in rural and difficult-to-reach areas, very limited ICT appropriation has been witnessed. The authors explain the current extent of ICT penetration and seek reasons for such lackluster inclusion of ICT and mobile technology in the healthcare sector. They use the TAM model to identify the critical factors of technology adoption, and use such understandings to help readers understand the barriers of adoption of ICT and mobile technologies in the healthcare sector. The authors also provide indicative guidelines about how such barriers may be overcome, and widespread adoption and deployment of these technologies can be made possible in the healthcare sector, yielding benefits to large sections of population in the US.