bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Never too late: older people and alcohol misuse
Authors: Mortimer Jacky 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore some of the issues around older people and alcohol.Design/methodology/approachThe paper highlights good practice through case studies and identifies some practical ways to prevent and reduce the risk of alcohol abuse by older people.FindingsMore brief intervention for older drinkers, more specialist projects for older drinkers, and training and support for staff in all services dealing with older people who misuse alcohol is urgently needed. Additionally, specialist training for dementia services to enable them to work effectively with alcohol‐related brain injury and drinkers in drug and alcohol services who are ageing are also needed. Finally, we need more research on substance misuse in older people, primarily in order to generate practical responses.Originality/valueThe epidemic of excessive drinking described by the media fails to include people over 65, even though there is plenty of evidence to show that they are experiencing many of the same social and economic pressures as young people.
Integrating positivity and negativity in management research
Authors: Pereira Lopes Miguel , Pina E. Cunha Miguel , Rego Arménio 
Published: November 2014

PurposeMuch of management research has been based on what can be called a “deficit‐based” approach. In contrast, there is the recent emergence of a new paradigm shift with the appearance of positive organizational studies. This paper aims to discuss how to integrate knowledge coming from both sides of the fence and exemplify it by testing a model that looks for the intricate and paradoxical relationships between optimism and pessimism.Design/methodology/approachUsing cluster analysis, a theoretical model is developed that includes the existence of a paradoxical type of personality beyond the dichotomous optimistic and pessimistic profiles. The validity of this model is tested in a sample of 343 workers of a company.FindingsThe data evidenced a good fit with the four cluster theoretical model and showed that almost half of the sample (46.36 percent) were clustered as “paradoxical optimists”, individuals that simultaneously reported optimistic and pessimistic expectations towards the future.Research limitations/implicationsManagement researchers should make an effort to better understand how positive and negative phenomena in organizations relate to one another, namely by studying paradoxical personality individuals. They should go beyond the normal positive/negative dichotomy and search for more integrative forms of functioning. In the specific case of optimism, they should also distinguish paradoxical optimists from both “purely” optimists and pessimists.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates that positive and negative issues in organizations can and should be integrated in more integrative theories. It develops and shows evidence of the construct of “paradoxical optimist”, a personality type that should be better investigated.
How do pleasure travelers manage their travel constraints?
Authors: Kimmm Jeongsun 
Published: November 2014

PurposeThis paper is designed to examine how pleasure travelers manage their travel constraints.Design/methodology/approachThe leisure activity participation constraint negotiation process framework is presented based on previous studies, and the pleasure travel constraint management process models are suggested based on the research survey and interviews.FindingsThe pleasure travel constraint management process model was suggested as a result of the survey, and the leisure activity participation constraint management model based on the interviews. These models demonstrate how the process of motivation, constraint, influence factors, and desire flows to result in no participation, or participation of pleasure traveling or other leisure activities.Originality/valueIt is the first trial to construct the pleasure travel and leisure activity participation constraint management models.
Landscaping and decoration: beauty in the desert
Authors: Muranda Zororo , Lewa Peter 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Entrepreneurship and small business formation.

Study level/applicability
BA (Entrepreneurship); BA (Small Business Formation); BA (Management).

Case overview
Owing to youth unemployment in sub-Saharan economies, youth entrepreneurship is now a major policy alternative across the subcontinent. It is also an immediate alternative for unemployed school drop-outs. Botswana is encouraging youth entrepreneurship through funding youth projects as an intervention. This case study presents decision alternatives considered by young adults when thinking about the future – to proceed with school or to start their own business. The other set of decision alternatives is which business idea to pursue – turning a hobby into a business opportunity or pursuing a new opportunity altogether. Mr Supang, owner of Swanscapes (Pty) Ltd, has to debate these decision alternatives with himself. Swanscape has to contend with a growing market but is unsure of where to get expansion finance. With expansion finance having been availed, managerial skills limitations will have to be dealt with. The company should focus on three other very important decisions: how to compete with large contractors currently dominant in the market and other small businesses that have recently entered the market in flower pot production; how to develop own skills and those of employees; and finally how to grow the business. Swanscapes remains hamstrung with the decision of which mode of growth strategy to adopt.

Expected learning outcomes
The goal of this case study is to illustrate the tough decision alternatives unemployed youth starting their own small businesses have to juggle with. The case also illustrates the hurdles novice entrepreneurs have to contend with in order to establish a brand for their product or service. It also illustrates the impact of inadequate managerial and technical skills on growth strategies an owner may have.

Supplementary learning materials
Teaching notes are available. Please consult your librarian for access.
Ren–Er Co: how to be successful with marketing plan
Authors: Reyes-Mercado Pável , Rajagopal  
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Marketing.

Study level/applicability
The case study is intended for undergraduate students pursuing grades in business, management, environmental, and sustainability areas. It can be used in marketing, entrepreneurship, market research and sales management courses.

Case overview
This case deals with the events surrounding the sales patterns and the marketing practices at a firm that commercializes clean energy equipment, specifically, solar water boilers. Ren-Er Co was founded by Mr Vega and Mr Flores two year ago in a mid-sized city close to Mexico City. At first everything seemed to be going well but as time went by, sales were not reaching the stated objective. In a meeting called by Mr Vega to address this issue many ideas were delivered. Above all, Mr Vega had to collect all relevant information to design a feasible marketing plan that allows the firm to revamp its precarious competitive position. He needed to convince Mr Flores, his partner, to continue operations instead of getting out of the market.

Expected learning outcomes
These include: enhanced ability to perform marketing analysis; development of alternative approaches to selling and marketing problems; development of effective marketing campaigns.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; contact your librarian for access.
Car-sharing: a feasible business expansion at Hangzhou Omnipay?
Authors: Zeng Amy Z. 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Marketing, entrepreneurship, operations management, and transportation/logistics.

Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for junior, senior undergraduate and first-year graduate business classes. It can be used entirely in business classes in marketing, entrepreneurship, operations management, and transportation/logistics, and parts of it can be used for discussions in classes related to emerging economies/markets, environmental management, sustainability, and technology management.

Case overview
The case builds on the expansion plan considered by a young software company, called Hangzhou Omnipay located in the city of Hangzhou, China. Mr Chao, Vice President (VP) of Omnipay, is the main character of the case. He was aware of the current car-sharing industry leader – Zipcar headquartered in Boston and also identified multiple stakeholders in the city for decision making. By collaborating with a global student project team, Mr Chao collected a great deal of information and data. This teaching case provides students and educators ample opportunities to examine, from a multitude of aspects, the viability of a car-sharing service in Hangzhou.

Expected learning outcomes
The central goal is to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of car-sharing service in a country's development in sustainability, socio-economy, environmental commitment, and new urban life style, as well as in a technological company's active pursuit of business expansion opportunity. In addition, students will not only understand the social, cultural, technological and strategic perspectives of car-sharing service implementation, but also develop and enhance analytic skills needed to conduct fundamental cost analysis, determine a base-line pricing scheme, and service location network design.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available, please contact your librarian for access.
Supply issues in ACPL – an electrical manufacturing company
Authors: Singh Hari Narain 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Supply chain management.

Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for post graduates in management, and for those managing small sector supply and manufacturing systems.

Case overview
ACPL is an organisation which moved from trading to manufacturing a technology product instrument transformers (ITs) for power utility companies for 11 years, competing with the best in industry, reducing internal costs, and modernising the supply chain. ACPL was started as a trading organisation in electrical items in Delhi by Munish Kumar, an engineer by profession in 2001. In 2004 he ventured into manufacturing, which expanded in two locations in Ghaziabad, NCR Delhi. Later his two sons, engineer and management graduate, respectively, joined the organisation. In less than a decade, by 2007, ACPL had grown to be a private limited organisation. ACPL manufactures ITs required by power boards and companies for conversion and usage of high voltage (11 kV/33 kV) transmitted power into 220 V single phase/440 V three phase power. From tender/enquiry through manufacturing to inspection and despatch takes a long supply chain cycle time holding space as well as inventory. An interview with the chairman of ACPL in the case highlights issues affecting its margins and growth. The long process to delivery time may be in vogue in this type of industry but this holds up a huge inventory. The company management has been working to resolve this crisis along with an urgent need to grow in a competitive environment. The problem is being addressed.

Expected learning outcomes
This case study should help students to understand the concept of the supply chain and supply cycle, in a manufacturing company in particular. It has been found that students understand the supply chain as part of the marketing function dealing with finished stocks, warehousing and delivery to end customers as per agreements, and arranging payments from customers. The supply chain also deals with in bound materials management. Raw materials planning, purchasing, inventory management are crucial for effective business operations management in any organisation.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; please contact your librarian for access.
Morocco's Novatis Group: diaper manufacturing in a developing country
Authors: Taj Shahram , Badaa Souheil , Garcia-DeLeone Sarena , George Beena 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
This case tackles the diaper industry in a developing country and can be applied to three different undergraduate or graduate level courses, including Marketing Management, Strategic Management, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. The case describes the industry, the manufacturing process, along with detailed information about Novatis Group's business and functions and the overall improving economic environment in Morocco.

Study level/applicability
The Novatis Group case has several objectives that can be applied to three different courses within undergraduate and graduate studies including Marketing Management, Strategic Management, and Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Case overview
The case focuses on Novatis Group, a diaper manufacturing company located in Morocco which competes against multinational companies (MNCs) such as Procter and Gamble and Kimberly Clark in order to satisfy the rising diaper needs of the country. Morocco is a developing country that is strengthening its manufacturing industries. The rising economic conditions have given way to a growing middle class and an increased demand for disposable baby diapers. Novatis uses two distribution channels for the diapers: the multi-tiered distribution channel and the streamlined (straight to retailer) channel. Novatis Group is producing diapers at full capacity; still demand has exceeded supply.

Expected learning outcomes
Students will understand the business processes in a developing country and how a small, local company can compete against large MNCs.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available, please consult your Librarian to access.
Role of “haraam” practices on behavior and performance of employees: a case study of business organization
Authors: Zia-ur-Rehman Muhammad , Rashid Majid 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Management sciences (organizational behavior).

Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for MBA students, employees of any organization, human resource practitioners, organization administrators, human resource directors and senior line management.

Case overview
The study deals with unethical or “haraam” practices at the workplace. It is based on the observation of the researchers. The business organization was selected and the behavior of employees was observed for two months. An interesting behavior of an employee was observed and the change in behavior was followed. The study describes the various factors influencing the behavior and performance of the employee and emphasis is made on the “haraam” practices of drinking alcohol and unacceptable behavior. The focus is on the performance of the employee. Major events and changes were elaborated to deduce the descriptive cause and effect results based on observation. It was found that behavior as well as performance was reduced due to “haraam” practices, which can be a lesson for other employees to follow as well as for managers to devise strategies in order to improve the most important resource of their organization, i.e. the human resource.

Expected learning outcomes
As this case was designed for an executive education programme, no detail regarding where it fitted into the curriculum is applicable as would be the case with cases designed for students. The case is intended to develop skills in students to creatively approach a common and wide spread problem and to think about the solution in an innovative way. The overall purpose of the case is to engage human resource practitioners (students) in creatively constructing innovative solutions to address the problem of compulsive drinking in the organizational environment.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available, please consult your librarian for access.
Dilemma in hiring
Authors: Bhatt Seema 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
The recruitment and selection process, human resource planning, talent management and succession planning.

Study level/applicability
The case has been tried and tested in the classroom setting with management students pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM).

Case overview
The case is set in the southern part of India in a manufacturing organization, Plomsom Ltd (a disguised organisation). Plomsom Ltd manufactures tractors and has a pan-India presence. The sale of tractors in India fluctuates over time. Sales are largely dependent on the seasonal harvests which in turn are heavily dependent on the monsoon rains. The case is designed for understanding the importance and necessity of finding the right man at the right time with the right skills in a manufacturing set up where production output is a factor of many interdependent variables.

Expected learning outcomes
The learning objectives of the case are: critical analysis of recruitment and selection; importance of job analysis in recruitment and selection; understanding the role of HR planning in running the operations; understanding problems in the manufacturing sector in an Indian context.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available. Consult your librarian for access.
Welcome to Pointsoft family
Authors: Vadhana R. Chandra 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Human resource management, strategic management, organisational behaviour.

Study level/applicability
Graduate and post graduate students of management, organisational behaviour and strategic HRM.

Case overview
This case is about a small company named Pointsoft Pvt. Ltd, which is a 25-year-old software company situated in Pune, India. Thanks to the IT boom, the company grew well under the leadership of Aravind, who is the managing director. Aravind took care of all matters related to human resources (HR) directly. So far, the company never had any HR manager, but now Aravind thought about handing over HR matters to an HR manager. After much scrutiny Meenaxi was appointed as HR manager. The case then proceeds narrating a series of incidents after the arrival of the new HR manager and how there began a clash between the new HR manager and the senior management team of the firm. A situation then arose where the HR manager, after one year of service, submitted her resignation quoting that she was being harassed by the senior management team. The core issues in this case are whether Pointsoft's decision of having an HR manager was right and whether the decision of having appointed Meenaxi was right.

Expected learning outcomes
The case brings out the necessary characteristics of an HR manager by showing the undesirable characteristics of an HR manager. The case also highlights typical issues of working in a small Indian firm which is trying to rise to a globalised setting. The case will also help the students understand about organisational culture and the importance of gelling with the same.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available. Please consult your librarian for access.
Global Synfuels' financial and strategic appraisal of a coal-to-liquid project
Authors: Ahuja Narender Lal , Agarwal Sweta 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Financial management, corporate finance, strategic management, managerial accounting and project management.

Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for courses such as MBA, Bachelor level business courses (in finance, business strategy) and training programs for working executives.

Case overview
The case study deals with financial and strategic appraisal of a unique coal-to-liquid project. India imported about two thirds of its crude oil requirements resulting in huge outflow of precious foreign exchange. As a result, it became necessary for the country to look for alternative sources of energy. The coal-to-liquid (CTL) technology of coal gasification offers a credible alternative source of fuels as proved by Sasol of South Africa. The Government of India short-listed Global Synfuels Company (name changed) as one of the selected few companies to build a CTL project. While the project is strategically important to the company and highly desirable for the country, there are serious doubts about the commercial viability of the project because of which the company is in dilemma whether to go ahead with the project. The case study presents this decision dilemma in a very interesting way and will be useful for teaching courses in corporate finance and strategic management.

Expected learning outcomes
The case can be used to engage participants to make a SWOT analysis for a new business opportunity, discuss environmental and financial issues facing a company, use DCF techniques to evaluate the project viability, carry out scenario analysis of the project to the changes in variables as well as challenge the participants to generate strategies for the success of a new project. Participants would also develop a better understanding of: environmental issues involved in CTL projects and new technologies to deal with such issues; and the employment impact of large projects such as the CTL.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.
Väätsa Agro AS financial distress
Authors: Laidroo Laivi 
Published: November 2014

Subject area
Corporate finance, financial management.

Study level/applicability
The case is suitable for Master's level corporate finance or financial management courses. Sufficient prior theoretical knowledge of corporate finance concepts is required.

Case overview
Väätsa Agro AS is an Estonian dairy farming company. Although the company had operated successfully in the past, its ownership changed significantly in 2006 leading to changes in the company's capital structure. Starting from 2008 milk prices on global markets decreased and this trend had also affected the company's profits. As a result of these developments the company's financial situation had deteriorated since 2008 and towards the end of 2009 the company had problems in meeting its obligations. On 1 September 2009 its owners hired a consultancy firm represented by Karl Kukk to tackle the company's problems.

Expected learning outcomes
The case should help students to: understand the risks of LBOs; understand the importance of an appropriate capital structure of a firm; evaluate a company's financial situation and compare it with competitors; understand the alternatives facing firms in financial distress; and choose the best course of action for a distressed firm considering the pros and cons of each alternative for each stakeholder group.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available; please consult your librarian for access.