bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An overview of CSR in the renewable energy sector
Authors: Mezher Toufic , Tabbara Samer , Al‐Hosany Nawal 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is the introduce corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Abu Dhabi, the biggest Emirate and one with the largest oil reserve in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Abu Dhabi set the first renewable energy policy in the region in January 2009. The policy calls for at least 7 percent of Abu Dhabi's power generation capacity to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. In 2006, the leadership of Abu Dhabi made a strategic decision to establish a globally competitive renewable energy sector in the country and hence the Masdar Initiative was created. It is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), also called Masdar.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on the corporate social responsibility of Masdar and the role the firm is playing as the “prime mover” in the renewable energy sector in UAE and the region. The paper is structured in the following manner. First, the literature on corporate social responsibility is reviewed. Second, the environmental challenges of UAE are highlighted. Third, the paper discusses the different business units of Masdar and their related projects and investments at local, regional and global levels. Finally, the role of ADFEC as a “prime mover” in sustainability and corporate social responsibility is highlighted.FindingsMasdar has taken leadership in CSR and sustainable energy technologies in Abu Dhabi, UAE and the region.Originality/valueThe case demonstrates the willingness of oil‐producing countries to become more sustainable and to do something about climate change. The Masdar Initiative, which includes the first carbon‐neutral city, can be regarded as a benchmark for future similar projects in the region and around the world.
Investigating technology transfer projects and institutional development in developing countries
Authors: Kovič Maša 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this research paper is to demonstrate that the success of technology transfer projects depends, among others, also on the projects' conformity with the institutional development in the concerned country.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on a study of two different user models of solar home systems in two different African countries with different institutional development, Zambia and Kenya. In the studied countries the solar home systems and thus home electricity are available to the users under different circumstances and terms. These circumstances and terms are closely connected to the functioning of the economic and judicial institutions in the mentioned countries.FindingsThe paper illustrates that, while the technology transfer project based on a “fee‐for‐service” solar home system was successful in Zambia, it would be unsuccessful in Kenya. And contrariwise, the technology transfer project based on a “market” solar home system was successful in Kenya, but would be unsuccessful in Zambia. The reasons for this difference are based on the different institutional development in the mentioned countries.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates that the success of a technology transfer project is dependent not only on emission reductions, but also on the accessibility of the project to the targeted user. The latter requirement, however, depends on how well the project takes into account which institutions are developed in a country and how well they function.
Diffusion of solar technology in developing countries
Authors: Ndzibah Emmanuel 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the growing trend of power outages in Ghana and the possible diffusion of a solar solution from the solar technologies; it also seeks to ascertain whether people in Ghana as well as developing countries would resort to renewable energy because of its “greenness”.Design/methodology/approachA focus group study was used, aimed at investigating the right parameters to be put in place for an effective diffusion of solar solutions in developing countries and, this instance, Ghana.FindingsResults from the interviews of sampled respondents selected from different regions of the country indicated that many Ghanaians consider solar energy as the best alternative. However, it was a matter of affordability, financing and accessibility. Supplementary discussion into the benefits of resorting to “greenness” of solar energy, which seems not to be of major concern to potential users in Ghana, is highlighted. Moreover, making solar energy accessible in Ghana and the related market‐marketing conditions of the solutions are addressed. Based on the findings, a comprehensive examination of the reasons behind the slow adaptation of solar energy as an alternative is addressed. The alternative solar solutions identified include: standalone; backup and hybrid.Originality/valueThe study can be seen as the first in a series of attempts to understand the energy crisis in Ghana. The paper is aimed at promoting awareness of renewable energy solutions and its potential for helping the country to achieve a balanced economic growth.
Biofuels adoption in Nigeria
Authors: Abila Nelson 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make a preliminary analysis of the potentials for the adoption of biofuels in Nigeria. This initial analysis aims to capture some of the possibilities in the adoption of biofuel and the promotion of the cultivation of energy crops and processing of biofuels in Nigeria. Taking a step towards biofuel adoption is crucial for Nigeria to remain an important player in the world energy market, as there is a shift in global fossil fuel consumption.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a desk review of existing literatures on global biofuels production potentials. A synthesis of data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) secondary database on major energy crops production was also conducted, while the GIS map was generated from GIS data sourced from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.FindingsNigeria has immense potential for energy crops cultivation and the production of bioethanol and biodiesel. The existing database shows that Nigeria ranks very high in terms of production of the major energy crops such as soybean, palm oil, sesame and cassava. The rainfall distribution shows that most energy crops can be grown all over Nigeria. Nigeria has the capacity to be a leading exporter of biofuels. The adoption of biofuels can also ease the financial strain relating to the heavy burden of fossil fuel subsidy and also enhance local livelihoods within the production chains.Practical implicationsWith the very high potential for biofuel production, the Government as well as private investors should take steps towards investing in agriculture for the production of energy crops and the establishment of biofuel‐processing plants in Nigeria.Originality/valueThe paper is a preliminary analysis of bio‐economic and environmental modeling of the adoption of biofuels in the energy sector in Nigeria. This analysis has opened up the focus of the bigger study, modeling the biological, economic, environmental and other impacts of biofuel adoption.
Articulation of environmental and socio‐economic externalities from bioenergy
Authors: Brose Isabelle , Van Stappen Florence , Castiaux Annick 
Published: October 2010

PurposeBioenergy from agriculture is considered to be a way to reduce GHG emissions and thus global warming and climate change. Bioenergy also presents other environmental externalities as impacts on air, soil and water quality, biodiversity, etc. In addition, bioenergy presents socio‐economic externalities as impacts on human health, social wellbeing, local prosperity, etc. These externalities must be assessed in order to enhance responsible politics' choice of the best bioenergy routes to support through incentives as subsidies or quotas. The aim of this research project is to enhance the political choice of bioenergy routes to support through incentives as subsidies or quotas.Design/methodology/approachFrom the literature review and assessment of certification initiatives, the paper has derived a list of environmental externalities, i.e. environmental sustainability criteria, and a list of socio‐economic externalities, i.e. socio‐economic sustainability criteria, to be taken into account in bioenergy routes evaluation. Environmental and socio‐economic externalities selected are interlinked and cannot be assessed in isolation. They are thus articulated into a qualitative model, which defines links between externalities and characterizes them into positive or negative correlations, and indeterminate relations.FindingsFrom this model, it appears that many interactions between environmental externalities or between socio‐economic externalities from bioenergy are not straightforward. Many of them are time or space‐dependent. Agricultural practices vary from one region to another; indirect effects are far from being understood and assessed correctly, long‐term effects of climate change are still unknown, etc. Moreover, environmental externalities should be articulated together with socio‐economic externalities.Practical implicationsOn the basis of the consolidated qualitative model, a quantitative model will be built. It will enable the monetization of externalities and their introduction in a political decision‐making tool. This tool will help politics to compare different bioenergy routes and choose the best according to their sustainability.Originality/valueThe quantitative model should allow the monetization of externalities and their introduction in a political decision‐making tool. This instrument will help politics to take into account sustainability in their comparison of different bioenergy routes when they want to promote: employment, GHG emissions reduction, biodiversity conservation, etc.
Information technology project management within public sector organizations
Authors: Rosacker Kirsten M. , Rosacker Robert E. 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe project management literature contains a growing body of research addressing information technology (IT). Currently, the majority of these studies direct attention towards projects completed within private sector organizations. Given the unique characteristics surrounding public sector organizations, this paper aims to argue that it is inappropriate to apply the lessons learned from private sector organizations in the public arena without investigating their applicability empirically.Design/methodology/approachA review of the historical evolution of IT usage within public sector organizations is offered. The broad body of project management knowledge is discussed, and the unique characteristics of public sector organizations are detailed. These three concepts combine to provide a conceptual framework for reviewing empirical research published in Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy.FindingsIt is concluded that the additional empirical research is needed to further our understanding of the applicability of project management principles, developed and applied in private sector organizations, to the unique organizational format presented by public sector operations.Originality/valueAs the use of, and dependence on, IT within all organizations continues to expand throughout the world, it becomes critically important for managers to understand “best business practices” so that these successful managerial techniques can be applied appropriately to enhance and refine operational practices. Importantly, problems associated with the successful management of information technology projects have been and continue to be significant concerns, thus highlighting the need for better knowledge development and transfer that can be provided by well designed and completed research.
Locating central travelers' groups in travel blogs' social networks
Authors: Vrana Vasiliki , Zafiropoulos Kostas 
Published: October 2010

PurposeUsing Travelpod.com, this paper aims to provide a methodology to locate central groups of travelers and to describe pattern characteristics of central travelers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses snowball sampling to locate travelers and analyze their hyperlink interconnections to identify central travelers' groups. Analysis of the adjacency matrix of the social network of travelers using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis to identify core travelers' groups follows.FindingsIn total, 7 percent of travelers are considered central travelers. They form core groups containing the most active and information providing travelers. Group membership is correlated with common travelers' characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to a specific network of travelers, to a specific time interval, and to a specific sampling method. Repetition of the study in other travelers' networks in several time instances using a full list of member travelers would help to generalize the findings. Also, graph theoretical approaches other than the statistical analysis used could reveal more properties.Practical implicationsTravelers in core groups are more likely to be reached by others who navigate through a series of incoming links that lead to them and it is probable that these travelers have the potential to address many visitors and therefore to have a significant impact on the provision of information.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper lies in the use of multivariate statistics on the network adjacency matrix to locate core travelers groups and on finding groups of the most influential travelers.
Relationships between employee readiness for organisational change, supervisor and peer relations and demography
Authors: Shah Naimatullah , Ghulam Sarwar Shah Syed 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the relationships and predictive power of supervisor and peer relations along with demographic factors towards employee readiness for organisational change in a developing country.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a quantitative approach, this cross sectional study applies a self‐administered survey questionnaire for data collection. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations are obtained using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 15.0 for Windows. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) is used to test a number of hypotheses. Finally, multianalysis of variances (MANOVA) is applied to find the relationships between change readiness and demographic characteristics.FindingsThe results show that supervisor and peer relations (independent variable) and the number of dependents and younger employees (independent variables) have positive and significant relationships to readiness for change. In addition, these predictors are the key determinants of employee readiness for organisational change in a developing country.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has methodological limitations as it employed a “one point in time” measurement; however, it involved several subsidiary organisations of a large public‐sector organisation.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to the literature on change management, particularly from a developing country perspective, and assists management and practitioners of human resources management, organisational behaviour and change agents in assessing, designing and evaluating new or existing programs for organisational change.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence of employee readiness predictor variables for organisational change.
E‐business complaint management: perceptions and perspectives of online credibility
Authors: Breitsohl Jan , Khammash Marwan , Griffiths Gareth 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate public online consumer complaint responses from three different perspectives: the complainer, the company and third party consumers. Consumer complaint behaviour and management has been studied in various streams of literature, yet the subsequent processes triggered by a company complaint response have not been studied so far. In particular, this paper seeks to divert from examining complaint participants in isolation by recognising interrelated communication effects of complaint dialogue and public media.Design/methodology/approachLooking at credibility perceptions as a theoretical construct for measuring the utility of a complaint as well as attitude‐orientation as an evaluative moderator, the paper highlights the ambiguity of meaning transfer in an online complaint forum.FindingsIt is hypothesised that credibility and congruence in attitude orientation positively enhance complaint utility perceptions and strongly bias complaint dialogue evaluations.Originality/valueThe paper highlights that expected relevant results for online complaint managers and marketers alike are the inclusion of post‐complaint communication into corporate image and relationship management as well as using credibility perceptions as a benchmark for online customer satisfaction and potential positive electronic word‐of‐mouth.
Overall governance, firm value and deviation from one share: one vote principle
Authors: Bozec Yves , Bozec Richard , Dia Mohamed 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe objective of this study is to investigate further the interplay between corporate governance and firm performance with special focus on a situation expected to bring larger agency costs to the firm, that is, when voting rights of the dominant shareholder exceed his/her cash flow rights.Design/methodology/approachThe research is conducted in Canada over a four‐year period from 2002 to 2005 and uses a balanced sample of 130 firms or 520 firm‐year observations. Corporate governance is measured based on the ROB corporate governance index published by The Globe and Mail.FindingsThe results clearly show a positive and significant relationship between the ROB governance scores and Tobin's Q, when there is a separation between voting and cash flow rights. In the absence of any excess voting rights, no significant relation is found between governance and performance.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that regulators need to exercise caution before deciding whether or not to recommend or impose corporate governance rules for all firms, since the benefits of these rules may vary among the firms.Originality/valueThe study contributes to explaining mixed international evidence on the governance‐performance relationship, while directing attention to the moderating effect of the deviation from the one share‐one vote principle. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no other study using corporate governance indices has taken into account the impact of excess voting rights despite the widespread use of that practice outside the USA.
Actors' balancing of criteria when translating an idea
Authors: Damm Scheuer John 
Published: October 2010

PurposeTaking the model of association as a point of departure the research question asked in the paper is: what is the role of translators and their criteria for choices in the translation of clinical pathways in a psychiatric ward?Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on an explorative single case‐study. Data were collected through participative observation and document studies. A temporal bracketing approach to process studies were used where the chain of events were broken down into chronologically organized episodes and then submitted to rigorous analysis.FindingsThe case‐analysis demonstrates that the role of human translators is to construct meaningful narratives that mobilize and enrol human as well as non‐human actors. Different translation proposals and translation criteria are continuously constructed, negotiated, tested out and weighted or balanced against each other by humans through the use of narratives. The analysis also demonstrates that other actors than humans may act and influence the translation process.Originality/valueThe model of association has until now been less precise and needs development of its theorization of the role of human translators and their criteria for choices in local organizing processes. The paper contributes to this development by means of an explorative case‐study.
Impact of infrastructure on output, productivity and efficiency
Authors: Sharma Chandan , Sehgal Sanjay 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical evaluation of the impact of infrastructure development on industry‐level productivity, output and efficiency in India over the period 1994‐2006.Design/methodology/approachThe first stage, estimated total factor productivity (TFP) and technical efficiency of eight important industries. In the next stage, the effects of infrastructure were estimated on TFP, output, labor productivity and technical efficiency. Fully modified ordinary least squares procedure was utilized to generate consistent estimates of the relevant panel variables in the cointegrated frameworks.FindingsThe results of this study are mixed. On the one hand, TFP, output and technical efficiency appear to be positively and largely affected by infrastructure. On the other hand, the effect of infrastructure on the labor productivity is somewhat negligible. In addition, the effects of information and communication technology on the industrial performance are found to be very weak.Originality/valueThis is the first study of its kind in the related literature which attempts to investigate the role of infrastructure in industrial performance, using alternative frameworks, namely, growth accounting and production function approach. The paper uses appropriate techniques to account for the potential endogeneity of regressors as well as for multicollinearity among infrastructure variables.
On the political economy of a backward region
Authors: Sarkar Abhirup 
Published: October 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a political economy model for a less developed region where a significantly large number of people belonging to the informal sector depend on political favours for their survival due to ill‐defined property rights. The purpose is to show that in such a scenario, democracy and political competition might lead to economic stagnation.Design/methodology/approachThe arguments in the paper are represented in terms of a theoretical model.FindingsThe central result is that the party with a better political organization will have the incentive to maximize the size of the informal sector, which will also maximize its probability of winning. In equilibrium this party choosing anti‐development policies will have a higher probability to be in power. Thus universal franchise may lead to inefficiencies in such economies. These inefficiencies stem from ill‐defined property rights in the informal sector.Originality/valueThis paper is an original contribution to the class of political economy models of less developed countries.