bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ‘New Paradigm' of the Sociology of Childhood
Authors: Ba' Stefano
Published: June 2017

This chapter aims at developing a critique of the so-called “New Paradigm” of the sociology of childhood, which was developed in British sociological schools between the 1960s and 1980s. The New Paradigm represented a substantial challenge to mainstream sociology of childhood and from this basis, Childhood Studies were capable of producing influential thinking about childhood and practices involving childhood. The main idea of this chapter is that the New Paradigm cannot constitute an adequate theoretical basis for ensuring the fulfilment of children's lives in terms of freedom and social justice. Its central point, that childhood is socially constructed, is not articulated coherently and is internally inconsistent. Italian alternative pedagogical practices are used to provide a concrete backdrop for the theoretical objections raised against the New Paradigm. These alternative critical practices commonly assert that theory cannot be separated from practice and that ideals of social justice for children are based on the struggles of marginalised communities.
Collective Impact
Authors: Riley Bobby , Silverman Jonathan , Prussack Victor , Klima Judith
Published: June 2017

H. O. Wheeler Elementary School, labeled as a failing school in 2004 became the Integrated Arts Academy, an arts magnet school through the development of strong school/community partnerships. It tells the story of how initially two key community arts organizations provided the Burlington School District with vision and professional development to address excellence and equity in a school with a diverse population that included 98% free and reduced lunch, 40 percent English language Learners (23 different languages/dialects spoken) and 25% Special education. To help achieve success the school has expanded partnerships with arts and community organizations. This chapter demonstrates how the partnerships through articulating mutual vision and expectations have contributed to a balanced population that has sustained its cultural richness, enhanced student academic and behavioral performance, and positively impacts grants, curriculum, residencies, community, and teacher education.
Designing and Delivering Web-Based Instruction to Adult Learners in Higher Education
Authors: Okojie Mabel C. P. O.
Published: June 2017

The essence of this chapter is to discuss theories and practices including approaches that instructional designers consider when designing Web-based instruction for adult learners. The importance of the chapter is to discuss best practice activities and theories as well as technologies that enable adult online learners to be involved in the design of their Web-based instruction. This represents recognition that adults have accumulated a repertoire of knowledge and experiences that inevitably will enrich the course materials. The theories discussed in this chapter are constructivism and connectivism; these theories improve adult involvement and help them to establish learning networks for exchanges of ideas using cultural artifacts and various interactive and video technologies. These technologies include Adobe Connect, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline, SoftChalk, Prezi, Google.docs, and Google Hangout. The idea is to provide rich virtual learning environments to help adult learners explore learning and connect with each other without inhibition. The traditional method of instruction, which is teacher-centered, is considered inadequate for the present digital age with its rapid knowledge transformation. The roles of technology leaders within the institutional leadership and factors that may impact negatively on Web-based instruction for adults are also considered.
The Importance of a Collaboratory
Authors: Banky George P.
Published: June 2017

Researchers have identified active collaborative learning and membership in learning communities as factors that facilitate the engagement of learners. In the reported student engagement study, a commercially available software utility was used to establish such an environment in a computer laboratory. This chapter addresses the following issues: will collaborative learning result in more student engagement and what type of software will support such activity? The collected data includes anonymous survey responses, mean marks for assessable components, and tutorial attendance figures for 2011 (pre-intervention) and 2012 (post-intervention) and 2013 (modified content with post-intervention style delivery). Freeform responses in the anonymous student survey were positive towards the experience. In 2012 with respect to those of 2011, mean assignment and tutorial participation marks for the students improved, while those for other assessable components appeared to have worsened. Student engagement, as reflected in tutorial attendance and assignment marks, were better in 2012. In 2013, the study was repeated with the focus of the tutorials changed to group problem solving with the tutorial participation reflecting student contributions during such sessions. The mean marks for the exam, the laboratory participation and for the course improved over those for 2012 and 2011, respectively. The other means slightly improved over those for 2011 but were slightly worse for those for 2012.
Blended Learning and Technological Development in Teaching and Learning
Authors: Umunadi Kennedy E. , Ololube Nwachukwu Prince
Published: June 2017

This chapter examines blended learning and technological development in teaching and learning. This study is based around the suggestion that technological development can emerge in Nigeria when an enabling environment and other necessary facilities for blended learning are made available in different institutions for teaching and learning. This chapter addresses the following topics: net generation and use of technology outside of schools, the digital environment, computer use and blended learning in schools, well-constructed digital environments, teaching and blended learning, the shift from teaching to learning, student-centered methods, theories supporting the new view of the learning process, play way method, group instructional methods, Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory, Skinner's theory of learning, Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, problem-based learning, anchored instruction, distributed cognition, cognition flexibility theory, cognitive apprenticeship, situated learning, self-regulated learning, and entry behaviour/residual knowledge.
Teachers Can Play Too
Authors: Chen Szu-Yu , Lindo Natalya A.
Published: June 2017

Positive teacher-child relationships are key factors for children's social-emotional development and academic success in schools. Teachers' ability to provide children with emotional support and understand children's unique needs may improve challenging behaviors in the classroom. Play-based teacher intervention training models provide teachers opportunities to become therapeutic agents and learn how to use humanistic play therapy skills and language to communicate with children and respond to their unique needs. In this chapter, the authors introduce four play-based teacher intervention training models: Kinder Training, Child-Teacher Relationship Training, Relationship Enhancement for Learner and Teacher, and Teacher-Child Relationship Building. The authors also illustrate these models' goals, training structure, research support for their effectiveness with teacher-child relationships, children's behavioral issues, academic engagement, and teachers' classroom management skills.
Engaging and Empowering Dual Enrollment Students
Authors: Onodipe Grace O.
Published: June 2017

This chapter discusses how 11th and 12th grade high school students taking college classes for credit, called dual enrollment students, are empowered and actively engaged when evolving mobile technologies such as socrative.com and remind.com are used in the college classroom. Classroom Response Systems, Peer Instruction, and the Flipped Classroom have all become widely known and growing instructional strategies used to promote active learning and enhance student engagement in the college classroom. Socrative.com is used as a Classroom Response System to provide students voice in the learning context. Peer instruction facilitated through the use of socrative.com allows for the engagement of learners and is shown to empower students in the classroom to engage in and control their own learning. Effective communication outside of class is necessary in a flipped classroom. Remind.com is used outside the classroom to enhance communication and to keep students on track with announcements and reminders.
Paradigm Shift Toward Student Engagement in Technology Mediated Courses
Authors: Becker Melissa Roberts , McCaleb Karen , Baker Credence
Published: June 2017

University recruitment websites continue to show students happily using technology in the higher education environment. Exactly how technology is used in the teaching and learning process continues to challenge and frustrate university instructors and students. A frequent depiction of college classrooms consists of an instructor lecturing from the front of the classroom and reprimanding students for talking to each other. In this paradigm, the professor is the “sage on the stage” and is the single transmitter of knowledge. Is this teaching and learning approach the most effective way to educate students? With recent discoveries about how students learn most optimally, and how technology can augment the process, a paradigm shift is required towards appropriate and intentional implementation of technology tools for engaging students to use higher-order thinking skills. This chapter explores the use and application of free digital tools that both improve and in turn enhance the learning process.
Does Facebook Provide Educational Value?
Authors: Manca Stefania , Ranieri Maria
Published: June 2017

Facebook has received considerable attention in a number of research areas. However, its educational value has not been fully confirmed and results from the mainstream educational paradigms are contradictory. A number of experiences related to the educational use of Facebook as a technology-enhanced learning environment are also flourishing. In these, Facebook has been used as a unique, or at least as one, learning management system tool, or as a platform for educational purposes. This chapter focuses on these issues, providing a wide overview of the current literature on the educational value of Facebook considering both theoretical positions and empirical findings. Furthermore, a few preliminary guidelines about Facebook usage are provided, pertaining to pedagogical, institutional, technological, and ethical issues. The chapter finally provides some hints about emerging trends and areas that deserve further research, such as professional development, academic practice, and location-based learning.
PRHOLO
Authors: Rodrigues João , Alves Ricardo , Sousa Luís , Negrier Aldric , Monteiro Jânio , Cardoso Pedro , Felisberto Paulo , Figueiredo Mauro , Mendes da Silva Bruno , Lam Roberto , Martins Jaime Carvalho , Gomes Miguel , Bica Paulo
Published: June 2017

In the globalized world, possessing good products may not be enough to reach potential clients unless creative marketing strategies are well delineated. In this context, public relations are also important when it comes to capture the client's attention, making the first contact between the clients and the company's products, while being persuasive enough to make them confident that the company has the right products to fit their needs. Three virtual public relations installations were purposed in this chapter, combining technology with a human like public relations ability, capable of interacting with potential clients located in front of the installation, at angles of up to 57º (degrees), 180º and 360º, respectively. From one to several Microsoft Kinects were used to develop the three interaction models, which allows tracking and recognition of users' gestures and positions (heat map), sound sources, voice commands and face and body extraction of the user interacting with the installation.
Upgrading Society With Smart Government
Authors: Al-Jenaibi Badreya
Published: June 2017

This paper aims to explore the goals and motives of electronic government utilization among the citizens, the motives of their preference as well as the extent of use of these smart applications in the UAE. Also, it investigates the basic element of Smart Government uses within the federal authorities, response times, and recommendations for improving smart government. This study answers the following questions: What is the purpose of creating smart government? What are the users' aims in using smart government and what level of satisfaction do they experience? To augment this research, 450 questionnaires were distributed among federal authorities' users in all 7 emirates in the UAE. In addition, 18 interviews were conducted with managers in the federal government. The users reported high levels of satisfaction using smart government technologies, indicating a high level of usage and trust. The results also show that higher service speed contributes to higher levels of satisfaction. Managers are very optimistic about Smart Government, but some challenges remain, such as the existence of a lack of information or guidelines for using smart government. There is currently no central government department for applying smart government, and no clear vision or philosophies regarding smart government.
Societal Implications of Current and Emerging “Smart” Technologies
Authors: Machidon Octavian Mihai
Published: June 2017

While every new technology brings along the expected “blessings” for its users, there is also the thick end of the stick, namely the potential hazards and undesired effects that it might cause. Today, smart technologies are being integrated in all social environments, at home, school or work, shaping a new world in which there is a closer interaction and interdependence between human and machine than ever before. This paper identifies the social and ethical concerns that have emerged as a consequence of such changes, and it has been put together after research reviewing literature from various research domains. It addresses the potential implications of smart technologies: the psychological and physical effects on their users, the social changes that they generate, and the concerns of privacy and security.
Wireless Access Networks for Smart Cities
Authors: Rivano Hervé , Augé-Blum Isabelle , Bechkit Walid , Boussetta Khaled , Fiore Marco , Stanica Razvan , Valois Fabrice
Published: June 2017

Smart cities are envisioned to enable a vast amount of services in urban environments, so as to improve mobility, health, resource management, and, generally speaking, citizens' quality of life. Most of these services rely on pervasive, seamless and real-time access to information by users on the move, as well as on continuous exchanges of data among millions of devices deployed throughout the urban surface. It is thus clear that communication networks will be the key to enabling smart city solutions, by providing their core support infrastructure. In particular, wireless technologies will represent the main tool leveraged by such an infrastructure, as they allow device mobility and do not have the deployment constraints of wired architectures. In this Chapter, we present different wireless access networks intended to empower future smart cities, and discuss their features, complementarity and interoperability.
Implementation of Flooding Free Routing in Smart Grid
Authors: Afzal Saad
Published: June 2017

Smart Grid is a communication and automatic control capabilities in electric power grid system for improving efficiency, reliability, management, capabilities and security of electric power grid. Routing is important in Smart Grid to send data from one point to another point. Routing in Smart Grid is necessary to search /identify destination point/node for communication and to computer the best available route in the network topology among which the data to be sent during communication. Smart Grid can be a combination of fixed nodes (home appliances, smart meter, control centre, etc.) but the nature of communication between fixed nodes is dynamic due to the switch on/off or the fluctuation in electricity flow. Therefore the fixed nodes can also be disappeared from the network topology in Smart Grid. Existing routing protocols for Smart Grid are based on flooding mechanism. We would like to examine the feasibility of flooding free routing in Smart Grid. Then we will propose a flooding-free routing for Smart.
New Game Paradigm for IoT Systems
Authors: Kim Sungwook
Published: June 2017

Game theory is a mathematical language for describing strategic interactions, in which each player's choice affects the payoff of other players. The impact of game theory in psychology has been limited by the lack of cognitive mechanisms underlying game theoretic predictions. Behavioral game, inference game, inspection game and Markov game are recent approaches linking game theory to cognitive science by adding cognitive details, theories of limits on iterated thinking, and statistical theories of how players learn and influence others. These new directions include the effects of game descriptions on choice, strategic heuristics, and mental representation. These ideas will help root game theory more deeply in cognitive science and extend the scope of both enterprises.
Basic Concepts for Game Theory
Authors: Kim Sungwook
Published: June 2017

Game theory has been variously described as the science of strategy or that of conflict resolution. At its core, it has the characteristics of a mathematical construct: a clear set of concepts and assumptions, fundamental theorems, and applications to real world issues. The fact that the issues in question are mostly the domains of the social sciences, however, places game theory in a peculiar position compared to other mathematical and scientific disciplines. Following von Neumann and Morgenstern's book, it is customary to analyze what we call game situations by using parlor games—already existing ones or ones specially constructed for this very purpose—as analytical models. This chapter does this.
Risk Management, Trust and Repeat Online Shopping Intentions
Authors: Mpinganjira Mercy
Published: June 2017

E-commerce is a growing phenomenon in Africa. One area of e-commerce that is growing at a very fast rate is online retailing. This is despite concerns that individuals often have in relation to online shopping being associated with more risk than traditional retailing. This chapter looks at practices of online retailers that help in mitigating online shopping risk and the influence of these on customers' levels of trust as well as on their intentions to re-purchase from specific online stores. The findings show that provision of adequate online product information and online store security has positive influence on customers' level of trust in an online store. The findings also show that trust in an online store has significant influence on customers' intentions to repurchase from a store. The findings have wide implications on successful management of online store outlets and these have been highlighted in the chapter.
Regulatory Framework of Mobile Commerce
Authors: Arora Jyoti Batra
Published: June 2017

Mobile commerce has given a new definition to wireless payment methods. It is new emerging technique which requires security at the top priority. Users are not still confident in using this technology. The proper infrastructure and support from government is required to deal with mobile commerce which can be achieved by developing fundamental regulatory framework. Regulatory framework described the technological and legal regulations to ensure the security in transaction in mobile commerce. It helps to deal with security related problem, financial issues and other legal issues that cause a hurdle in making mobile payment. A clearly defined regulatory framework is also required to enhance the customers' confidence and increase acceptance of mobile payment in their daily life. The cooperation and information sharing between telecommunication regulator, mobile service provider, and mobile operator and banking regulator is required to make a successful and efficient working regulatory framework.
Website Attractiveness in E-Commerce Sites
Authors: Khanna Siddharth , Wahi Ashok Kumar
Published: June 2017

Website attractiveness has become the essence of online business and bringing in more customer base. Website attracting variables play a key role enhancing the online purchase among the consumers. Key website attracting variables influencing consumer purchase decision include: Services & Offers, Ease of Use (Usability) and Concerns & Issues. Services & Offers: The consumers are attracted by the services and offers that a website provides to its users. The higher the services and offers provided by a website, the more will be the attractiveness to its users. The services and offers play a vital role as an attracting force to influence consumers in their purchasing decision. Ease of Use (Usability) is redefined as trade-off between increasing the user's motivation to encourage exploration and purchasing in e-commerce, and the costs of usability errors (Sutcliffe, 2002). The perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the two main factors on which usability counts. The quality of the website is also determined by its usability i.e. the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to the customer. Concerns & Issues: The eradication of trust in Internet commerce applications may cause prudent business operators and clients to forgo use of the Internet for now and revert back to traditional methods of doing business. This loss of trust is being fueled by continued stories of hacker attacks on e-commerce sites and consumer data privacy abuse. Credibility can be defined as believability. Credible information is believable information. In discussing the credibility of an e-commerce site we will aim at the reliability of the information given about the products and services. The following study aims at analyzing the website attractiveness factors of Concerns & Issues, Services & Offers and Ease of Use (Usability) influencing the consumer purchasing decision. It also aims at finding the importance of these afro mentioned variables in attracting and winning over the consumer in the highly competitive Internet marketplace. A survey of focus group of participants who were regular users of E-commerce websites like E-Bay, Yebhi, and Snapdeal etc. helped in creating a web management score.
Mobile Payments for Conducting M-Commerce
Authors: Ahuja Rupali
Published: June 2017

Mobile commerce or M-commerce facilitates users to conduct commercial activities using mobile equipment like Smartphone, tablet etc. M-commerce has come a long way since its inception in 1997. With adoption of 4G networks, it is believed that M-Commerce will outpace E-commerce soon because of its high speed, convenience, flexibility and mobility features. Mobile payment is an integral component of M-commerce. Any transaction on mobile devices involving monetary value has to go through a payment mechanism. With increased interest of users in M-Commerce, the mechanisms available for mobile payments are becoming more prevalent and are continuously evolving. This chapter describes stakeholders of the mobile payment ecosystem, mobile payment technologies, payment carriers, payment gateways and issues involved with them. We also discuss the popular payment options available in M-commerce market space today.
A Typology of Firms Regarding M-Commerce Adoption
Authors: San-Martín Sonia , Jiménez Nadia
Published: June 2017

Nowadays firms are actively considering the mobile phone as a means of marketing and should also analyze its potential as a means of selling. In this study, the authors present the survey results from a sample of 125 firms, in Spain. They outline four types of firms (innovators, followers, laggards and traditionalists) on the basis of factors that drive or inhibit this type of selling and the main variables from TOE (technological, organizational and environmental) framework. The authors also characterize those four types of firms according to their size, sector, experience and use of ICT marketing strategies. To the best of their knowledge, scarce studies have analyzed mobile selling in Spain and proposed an exhaustive characterization of mobile vendor firms and strategies. Both academic and managerial implications of interest are derived from this study.
Swift Guanxi Data Analysis and Its Application to E-Commerce Retail Strategies Improvement
Authors: Lacka Ewelina
Published: June 2017

The Internet has changed the face and the pace of retail offering an opportunity to sell products online. This has led to the fast growth of e-commerce sites in which retailers envision a source of competitive advantage. Before they are able to benefit from e-commerce however, they have to understand the range of factors, which impact consumers' e-commerce acceptance. Even more, to ensure sustainability of online product sale, retailers have to go a step further and understand not only consumers' intentions to purchase online but also factors driving product re-purchase. To date, a number of factors driving consumers' e-commerce purchase and re-purchase have been examined. Most recently, the concept of swift guanxi has been studied. This study extends this stream of research by analysing social media data being a result of swift guanxi in order to help retailers in their online strategies improvement.
Security Issues and Countermeasures of Online Transaction in E-Commerce
Authors: Harshita Sarvesh Tanwar , Tanwar Sarvesh
Published: June 2017

Nowadays, e-commerce is one of the most growing sectors in the field of internet. It gives the flexibility to shop online, transact online, transfer money online and many more feature to its internet users. As the growth of e-commerce increases, e-commerce security also comes out a major concern to ensure its user a secure transaction without any fear over the network. Banking sector is one of the most prominent sectors of growth in world of e-commerce, but as its demand increases the security and risks along with it also increases. E-commerce security must ensure major security features of cryptography: privacy, authentication, access control, confidentiality and protect data from un-authorized access. In this chapter, all aspects regarding e-commerce describes from its introduction to its security, countermeasures and an example of doing secure payment from any website.
Payment Methods and Purchase Intention from Online Stores
Authors: Abu-shamaa Rasha , Abu-Shanab Emad , Khasawneh Rawan
Published: June 2017

Online retail stores are a new booming phenomenon in the Arab world. Recent years witnessed a significant increase in the number of Arabic online stores launched for different kinds of products and services. Stores offer grocery products, fashion and life style items, and electronics and technology devices. Regardless of the growing investments in the Arabic online retail sector, Arabic consumers are still doubtful about online shopping. This research investigated the factors affecting Jordanians' purchase intentions from online stores by extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) to include payment method. The model included payment method (PM), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU), as direct predictors of the intention to use online stores and moderated by consumers' level of trust of such factors. Results indicated that TAM predictors, and payment methods do affect consumers' intention to purchase online. However, PM and PEOU relationships with the intention to shop online are the only relationships moderated by trust.
SWOT Analysis of M-Commerce
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Malhotra Harmeet
Published: June 2017

M-Commerce is availing services online without physically going to geographical locations such as banks, shopping malls etc. It is a customer-driven approach offering convenience of personalized marketing, selling and purchasing goods and services on mobile phones. From selling home-made chocolates to selling apparels online, it has invaded all. Smartphones has widen its reach and has introduced innovation in information exchange and transactions through mobile applications. Certain challenges and threats posed by M-commerce, which are faced by business organizations and customers, are analyzed via SWOT to aid decision making of organizations before shifting their focus on M-commerce, at the same time, of customers prior to sharing their sensitive information via smartphones. This chapter focuses on the feasibility and acceptability of M-commerce with the help of SWOT analysis amongst existing and prospective stakeholders. Detrimental factors leading to growth in business revenue, challenges for implementing technology, challenges faced by end-users etc. has been discussed in detail.
The Role of B2B E-Commerce in Market Share
Authors: Milgram-Baleix Juliette , Parravano Melanie , Pedauga Luis Enrique
Published: June 2017

This chapter explores the impact of the Internet and Business to Business (B2B) e-commerce on Spanish manufacturing firms' market share while most studies focus on innovation and productivity. Using standard panel estimations, the authors find that firms with their own Web domain and that also carry out B2B e-commerce increase their market share, though this effect is not homogeneous among industries. B2B e-purchases have a more significant (and positive effect) on firms' market share than B2B e-sales have. Unlike other studies, the authors also use a panel threshold regression specification that shows that e-commerce affects market share in a non-linear manner depending on firm's characteristics. Larger firms and firms with higher share of skilled workers are better at increasing their market shares through Internet-based commerce strategies than other firms.
An Analytical Study of Methodologies and Tools for Enterprise Information Security Risk Management
Authors: Bhattacharjee Jaya , Sengupta Anirban , Barik Mridul Sankar , Mazumdar Chandan
Published: June 2017

An enterprise is characterized by its business processes and supporting ICT infrastructure. Securing these entities is of utmost importance for the survival of an enterprise and continuity of its business operations. In order to secure them, it is important to first detect the risks that can be realized to cause harm to those entities. Over the years, several kinds of security risk analysis methodologies have been proposed. They cater to different categories of enterprise entities and consider varying levels of detail during risk analysis. An enterprise often finds it difficult to select a particular method that will best suit its purpose. This paper attempts to address this problem by presenting a detailed study of existing risk analysis methodologies. The study classifies them into specific categories and performs comparative analyses considering different parameters addressed by the methodologies, including asset type, vulnerabilities, threats, and security controls.
A Step-by-Step Procedural Methodology for Improving an Organization's IT Risk Management System
Authors: Loganathan Shanmugapriya
Published: June 2017

Risks in IT are described as a form of threat in context with data security, network transfer, system scheduled processes, critical applications, and business procedures. IT risk management is broadly defined as the process of managing IT risks, and must be executed on a regular basis. It is neither a product nor a purchase, but a policy of an organization implements to protect its business systems. Managing IT risk plays a vital role in administering any business in today's world. Irrespective of the business, deep knowledge of IT risk leads to increased data security, reduced business cost, and greater compliance. This chapter deals with methodologies to improve risk management in an IT organization, their impact, and some examples.
Impact of Technology Innovation
Authors: Suresh Niranjali , Gupta Manish
Published: June 2017

Cloud enables computing as a utility by offering convenient, on-demand network access to a centralized pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly deployed with great efficiency and minimal management overhead. In order to realize the benefits of the innovative cloud computing paradigm, companies must overcome heightened risks and security threats associated with it. Security and privacy in cloud is complex owing to newer dimensions in problem scope such as multi-tenant architectures and shared infrastructure, elasticity, measured services, viability etc. In this paper, we survey existing literature on cloud security issues and risks which then guides us to provide a section on auditing based to address the identified risks. We also provide a discourse on risk assessment frameworks to highlight benefits using such structured methods for understanding risks. The main contribution of the paper is investigation of current innovations in cloud computing that are targeted towards assisting in effective management of aforementioned risks and security issues. The compilation of discussed solutions has been developed to cater to specific cloud security, compliance and privacy requirements across industries by cloud service providers, software-as-a-service (SaaS) application vendors and advisory firms.
Swimming Upstream in Turbulent Waters
Authors: Krishnamachariar Priyadarsini Kannan , Gupta Manish
Published: June 2017

Agile approach is a pragmatic fashion of software development, wherein the requirements are flexible to the changing needs of the customers, fast paced markets and the iterations of software are implemented and delivered based on business priorities. A risky or experimental project where the project requirements are not clear/not defined well in advance, are the most suitable candidates for adopting agile approach, as agile enables us to work with calculated risks during development, aiming to reduce the risks. The value of any implementation is realized only if it delivers benefits to organization and users, which could be assured by effective auditing of the implementation by understanding the implications of agile approach and figuring out right audit techniques and processes. Many organizations already have well established audit functions and matured IT Audit procedures for auditing traditional SDLC waterfall processes. Yet the methods for auditing software development based on agile approach requires a different attitude and audit techniques that goes well with the proactive nature of agile approach. This paper aims to present risk based audit approach on the agile implementation of software development, how risk identification and assessment can be merged along with the phases of software development and the ways by which agile techniques can be effectively utilized as tools for audit.
Humans Versus Computers, Systems, and Machines
Authors: Radley Alan
Published: June 2017

The present chapter introduces a new existential philosophy of how computers, systems and machines operate within society, and in terms of the provision, furtherance and/or obstruction of human rights/freedoms and open life-potential(s). We explore the relationship(s) between the design of artificial systems and the existence/form/implementation of democracy; and from the key perspective(s) of individual and collective freedom-of-thought/action. A basic premise is that humans are increasingly disadvantaged as a result of, or slaves to: unfettered automation, objectivity, abstraction and fragmentary thinking; as promulgated/aided by computers/systems/machines. We explain how related processes create conflict/opposition/barriers to/with natural and harmonious socialization activities/processes; and hence strongly influence our collective destiny.
The ODL Systems for Sustainable Growth in Brazil
Authors: Duran Maria Renata da Cruz , Rodrigues Bruna Carolina Marino , José da Costa Celso
Published: June 2017

The Open University System of Brazil (UAB System) was created in 2006 to provide higher education, especially for teachers in regions not served by traditional institutions, through an articulation between Public Institutions of Higher Education (IHES), state and municipal delegates and federal government in favor of distance learning modality. In order to present a few of these results, we are going to start from an overview of Brazilian education, situating distance learning education on that. Within this chapter, we are going to draw the main lines of UAB System that was accompanied with the trajectory of an interinstitutional research group that have been working since 2011, typifying the university offices and the municipality centers, and showing the potential of some of these combinations in terms of quality evaluation and economic impact.
Integration of Web 2 Technologies for ODL
Authors: Vaishnav Rajshree Satish
Published: June 2017

The world today is a complex one with issues and concerns emerging that were absent even a generation ago. Education and technology in the present millennium is not a luxury but commodity for survival in the present knowledge driven tech innovative society. In today's online era, the concept of a traditional classroom teaching extends beyond a walled room with desks and chairs and into the realm of cyber space. The Research findings presented here are derived from a systematic researches conducted to know the effectiveness of various modes of online learning and face-to-face instruction for teaching various subject /courses at different level. The goal of such studies as a whole is to provide policy-makers, administrators and educators with research-based guidance about how to implement different platforms of online learning for school/ higher education and teacher preparation. The locus of such researches was students studying in different institutions at different levels in India.
The Economic Effects of Spiritual Tourism in India and Pakistan
Authors: Haq Farooq , Medhekar Anita
Published: June 2017

This conceptual study builds on the argument that urbanisation is driving economic development and innovation in various industries including tourism. One of the recently recognised innovation in tourism is the business of spiritual tourism. This chapter is based on a study on spiritual tourism in India and Pakistan as an innovation linked with urbanisation of tourism. The aim of this chapter is to present the link between economic indicators that are associated with urbanisation of spiritual tourism based on people, places and events. The discussion analyses the economic perspectives of tourism urbanisation in literature review and provides an understanding of spiritual tourism as a tourism innovation. Findings of this research indicate five economic indicators with respect to spiritual tourism as a tourism innovation. Future research direction highlights need for an empirical study with spiritual tourists in India and Pakistan to ascertain urbanisation effect on spiritual tourism innovation.
Socioeconomic Challenges and Opportunities of Urbanization in Nigeria
Authors: Abubakar Ismaila Rimi , Dano Umar Lawal
Published: June 2017

Nigeria, with a population of about 186 million people (48% living in urban areas) in 2016, is the most populous country in Africa and eighth in the world, and by 2050 it is projected to become the third largest country in the world. This chapter highlights major challenges of rapid urbanization in Nigeria, caused mainly by in-migration of rural dwellers in search of better living conditions and employment opportunities. They include unemployment and urban poverty, social exclusion and crimes, poor housing and slum, inadequate provision of public services and proliferation of the informal sector. Notwithstanding, Nigeria can exploit these urbanization challenges and turn them into opportunities for socioeconomic development. As such, some key opportunities for sustainable urbanization in Nigeria has been discussed: (a) local economic development; (b) promoting urban sustainability; and (c) smart and knowledge city initiative. The chapter concludes with some future research directions.
Internationalization of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Panigrahy Srikant , Professor Prahlad Mishra , Patra B. P.
Published: June 2017

Focusing on internationalization process of firms of developing countries, the present study attempts to identify the important determinants/ variables which affect the Indian pharma firms' export performance. A causal model was built using contingency theory perspective by including important external variables, internal variables, export strategy and export performance affecting Indian pharma firms and was tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method. The finding of this study support the conceptual model build using contingency framework and contributes both to export performance researchers for building further the theory and Indian pharma industry to focus on important determinants for export success.
What Makes a Global Business Model?
Authors: Osiyevskyy Oleksiy , Troshkova Milena , Bao Yongjian
Published: June 2017

A firm's business model is an essential mechanism determining how an organization creates value for its stakeholders and captures part of the created value as profit for its owners. Global enterprises secure their market positions through properly functioning business models that are globally scalable. Once a globally scalable business model is successfully designed and validated in one location, it becomes a non-location-bound firm-specific advantage, promoting the firm's international expansion. This chapter addresses the following research questions: (1) What is the role of a business model in the success of global enterprises? (2) Which common attributes do business models of successful global companies possess? and (3) How to make a business model more suitable for global expansion? The theoretical analysis of these questions yields a conceptual framework for examining the global companies through the business model lens. The developed conceptual framework is illustrated and corroborated with the mini-cases of global companies.
Critical Success Factors for Executives in Global Economy
Authors: Baporikar Neeta
Published: June 2017

With the convergence of information, communication and technology and global collaboration drives in modern management, it becomes imperative and crucial to understand the critical success factors (CSFs) for executives. In this globalized scenario, the internet has a dramatic impact on every kind of organization. It forms completely new challenges on the one hand but on the other hand it offers entirely new facilities. Additionally, spatiotemporal borders disappear. Totally new business models are being developed and companies have discovered completely new strategies to gain competitive advantage in this information age. Further, the advancements in society and technology, coupled with accelerations in globalization, competitive environments and changing customer's preferences have created new challenges as well as opportunities for executives. There is need to leverage on this vicissitude. To do so, it is essential to identify and understand the critical success factors (CSFs) fundamental to the success of executives and that is the core objective of this chapter.
Managing Business Ethics in a Global Environment
Authors: Canestrino Rossella , Magliocca Pierpaolo
Published: June 2017

The aim of this chapter is to explore the how international players, acting at global level, may overcome a “moral gap” when it arises. In doing this, the linkage between culture and Business Ethics was examined in order to highlight the way values and believes differently affect a) the assumption about what is right or wrong, b) the individual/organizational moral reasoning, and c) the consistency between individual/organizational behaviour and the moral standards that prevail in a given context. Relevant issues were investigated referring to all the levels – individual, corporate and systemic – within which a “moral gap” may arise. Accordingly, “Bridging” diversities was identified as a good solution to solve a “moral gap” at all the mentioned levels. Cross-cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural negotiation were finally claimed as necessary to look for a trade-off between universal norms and local particularism, as well as to finally identify new common standards respectful of the opposite positions.
Water-Related Price Risks
Authors: Nesheva-Kiosseva Ninel Ivanova
Published: June 2017

This chapter presents the issue of the risks associated with the increase of the price (tariffs) of water, which are, and promise to be, a growing challenge for the sustainable management of the companies. At the beginning of the chapter the term risk is operationalized and water-related risks are classified. The reasons and their specific characteristics for the raising of water prices and the objective risks they create for the companies have been identified in the main part of the chapter. This part informs the company management about the possible causes of unjustified increase in the price of the water used in their activities. Several informational and analytical solutions and guidelines for the management have been marked in the end. These can prove useful in preventing and reducing the abovementioned risks and in aiding the sustainable management of the companies.
National Income Inequality, Society, and Multinational Enterprises
Authors: Lupton Nathaniel C. , Jiang Guoliang Frank , Escobar Luis F.
Published: June 2017

This chapter calls for understanding the perspective of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on international differences in income inequality. The authors set a research agenda on how national differences in income inequality influence MNE expansion strategies. Applying a transaction cost framework, both negative and positive economic outcomes of income inequality, from the MNE's perspective, are identified. Low levels of income inequality may deter foreign investment, as MNEs prefer countries where they incur lower levels of transaction costs arising from interactions with various market and non-market actors. However, the positive effect of income inequality on location attractiveness will likely diminish at higher levels of inequality when benefits are increasingly offset by additional monitoring, bargaining and security costs owing to instability and conflict. The chapter further explores the implications for level of MNE equity applied in the choice of entry mode under different levels of income inequality.
A Profile of Foreign Nationals in a Globalising Second-Tier City, Suzhou, China
Authors: Kim Hyung Min
Published: June 2017

The recent development of Chinese cities has witnessed an increasing number of foreign nationals working in China. Foreign nationals tied up with MNEs are one of the powerful drivers for urban transformation in the post-reform era. However, little attention has been paid to their socio-economics characteristics. This chapter, therefore, is to analyse characteristics of foreign nationals in socio-economic, demographic and spatial aspects. This chapter focuses on a globalising Chinese second tier-city, Suzhou as a case study.