bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurial environments and growth: evidence from Malaysia GEM data
Authors: Zamberi Ahmad Syed , Xavier Siri Roland 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the entrepreneurial activities in Malaysia through determining some demographic characteristics, expert and individual perceptions of Malaysian entrepreneurs, in addition to the environment for entrepreneurship, and to highlight Malaysia's entrepreneurial position internationally.Design/methodology/approachThe study was drawn from country‐level data provided by the National Malaysia GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) to evaluate the current status of entrepreneurial environments in the country.FindingsThe findings show that the early stages of entrepreneurship development in Malaysia are very dynamic and volatile. The number of early‐stage entrepreneurial activities in Malaysia is still lower than in other parts of developing countries. Inadequate financial support, bureaucracy and inconsistency of government policies, lack of entrepreneurial education at tertiary level and inadequacy of entrepreneurial training are some of the important obstacles encountered by entrepreneurs in Malaysia. On the other hand, there are favourable entrepreneurial environmental conditions determined in this study that are promising: the physical infrastructures and services access towards entrepreneurship, and the financial environment related with entrepreneurship.Practical implicationsThe results are also useful for optimising the local entrepreneurial environment, and are helpful for policy decision makers. Institutions need to be strengthened before entrepreneurial resources can be fully deployed.Originality/valueThis paper provides the Malaysian government with theoretical support so that the government can utilise limited resources to develop entrepreneurial activities.
Vulnerability of crop production to heavy precipitation in north-eastern Ghana
Authors: Kanchebe Derbile Emmanuel , Abudu Kasei Raymond 
Published: February 2012

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to analyze vulnerability of food crop production to heavy precipitation in north-eastern Ghana, specifically, the upper east region (UER) and the policy implications for adaptation. Heavy precipitation events are a common part of climatic variability; but little attention is given to its impact on livelihoods as compared to droughts in research and policy domains.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper draws on both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data. Rainfall data are analyzed using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). This is compared with quantitative analysis of crop yields and complemented by narratives of farmers from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.

Findings
– The results show that heavy precipitation events often lead to low food crop productivity and this suggests that the latter is vulnerable to the former.

Originality/value
– Although some adaptation is occurring through a wide range of local measures, these are inadequate for eliminating vulnerability. Thus, additional policy measures are recommended for enhancing farmer adaptation, including: incorporating climate change adaptation policies, including adaptation to heavy precipitation into District Development Planning; building human resource capacity for effective implementation of climate change adaptation policies at district levels; improving market access to seed through improved market infrastructure and rural transportation; establishing Community Seed Banks (CSBs) as back up sources of seed; promoting “nursing and transplant” as an alternative planting method for millet and guinea corn; promoting low costs solar drying technologies for drying food crops; and supporting livelihood diversification through credit and business development services.
Nature and extent of population displacement due to climate change triggered disasters in south-western coastal region of Bangladesh
Authors: Salauddin Md. , Ashikuzzaman Md. 
Published: February 2012

Purpose
– Climate change has several impacts on people
'
s lives, directly or indirectly, and displacement is one such indirect effect. The purpose of this paper is to bring this fact to light, as Bangladesh is going to face severe problems due to the displacement of population predicted by researchers.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper is an outcome of a thorough study of Bogi village in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. Several factors such as demographic conditions, natural disasters, land loss and changes in landuse pattern, have been taken into consideration. Methods used for data collection were questionnaire survey and focus group discussions in the study area. The nature and extent of displacement are found by comparing the changes in occupation, location of settlement and permanent migration of family members.

Findings
– Population growth rate decreased in recent years as the annual growth rate for both sexes was 0.89 in between 1991 and 2001 but in recent years, from 2001 to 2005, it was 0.63, which is a clear indication that the natural growth is hampered or a major proportion of the population is migrating. On the other hand, 361 hectors of land were lost throughout the last 18 years. As a result, 93 percent of people in that area were forced to move to other places for at least one time in their life. The major reason of displacement found was loss of land and occupation caused by cyclone, storm surge and erosion.

Practical implications
– The study findings depict scenarios of rural urban migration due to disasters and critically found out the sectors to be addressed. The study can be a representative of the condition of almost all the remote coastal region and may work as a hammering tool to formulate strategic options to deal with the environmental issues and socio-economic situation.

Originality/value
– Sophisticated but commonly used methods and techniques have been used to find out the problems associated with climate change and disasters in the coastal belt. The study has taken an initiative to identify climate change impacts at micro level on the basis of spatial and non-spatial attributes. The way this study was conducted can be a popular path to put future researches on a human-oriented track.
Surveying local planning directors ' actions for climate change
Authors: Tang Zhenghong , Wei Ting , Quinn Courtney , Zhao Nan 
Published: February 2012

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how well local planners have recognized the issues surrounding climate change, the analysis that jurisdictions have conducted on climate change, and policies that have been implemented to address climate change.Design/methodology/approach– This study conducted a mail questionnaire survey for 214 counties ' planning directors in the USA and received 53 effective responses. This survey examined how well local planning directors have been prepared for climate change, including awareness, analysis scope, and implementation strategy.Findings– The descriptive results indicate that the directors who responded to this survey had a relatively high (79.87 percent) level of awareness for climate change; but they had limited (34.94 percent) analysis scopes to assess the sources, impacts, and risk of climate change in their jurisdictions. These directors had partially but not fully (51.51 percent) developed local land use planning implementation strategies to mitigate or adapt climate change. The regression model indicates that the political commitment and planning personnel resources have significant influence on local planning directors ' actions for climate change.Originality/value– This paper provides policy implications to improve local land use planning ability for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Urbanization and hydro‐meteorological disaster resilience: the case of Delhi
Authors: Prashar Sunil Kumar , Shaw Rajib 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the role of institutions dealing with disaster risk in Delhi and propose possible solutions for disaster risk reduction.Design/methodology/approachThe approach to assess the role of institutions is based on the Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) questionnaire survey. It evaluates roles based on variables such as mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, effectiveness of crisis management framework, knowledge dissemination and management, institutional collaboration with other stakeholders, and good governance.FindingsThe findings show the institution's limitations and strengths to face hydro‐meteorological disaster risk in Delhi. It further identifies possible areas for disaster risk reduction.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology is new and it only incorporates disasters that are hydro‐meteorological. The study does not include man‐made, geological, and biological disasters.Originality/valueThe paper is unique in its approach to identify gaps in the current approach in managing disaster risk in Delhi and puts forward the possible ways to deal with disaster risk. Moreover, very few studies have been done in this area.
Meta‐analytic review of disclosure level and cost of equity capital
Authors: Souissi Mohsen , Khlif Hichem 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to meta‐analyze the results of 22 empirical studies that examine the relationship between voluntary disclosure and cost of equity capital. The authors examine whether differences in results are attributable to moderating effects related to disclosure environment, the measurement of the disclosure score and the proxy used to measure the cost of equity capital.Design/methodology/approachThe approach used is the meta‐analysis statistic technique developed by Hunter et al.FindingsThe results emphasize the need to explicitly consider the legal and institutional aspects (high disclosure environment versus low disclosure environment) when one analyzes the association between disclosure level and cost of equity capital.Originality/valueSince the authors' analysis confirms the negative association between disclosure and cost of equity capital in countries characterized by low disclosure environment, managers in these contexts are encouraged to make more voluntary disclosure in order to reduce uncertainty among investors and increase the marketability of their securities.
A survey of corporate governance: international trends and China's mode
Authors: Li Wei'an , Xu Yekun , Niu Jianbo , Qiu Aichao 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe literature on corporate governance has experienced an explosive growth in the past decade and presented some new trends. One purpose of this paper is to make an exploratory survey of this. Since China is a typically emerging and transition economy, another purpose of this paper is to review some domestic studies with an intention to discover the evolution logic of corporate governance practices in China under a complicated and exclusive context, the third purpose is to provide future research directions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper surveys recent literature in the field of corporate governance, intending to find out the development trends and extract the main line of literature on and practices of Chinese corporate governance.FindingsIn this paper, we find that recent literature on corporate governance provides some new insights into subtle characteristics of governance, governance effects of relational network, political connections, corporate governance evaluation and financial institutions governance. During the past decade, the literature on Chinese corporate governance has referred to some new areas during the transition process from administrative governance to economic governance. In addition to the above, we attempt to put forward an analytical framework and the proposition that Chinese corporate governance is in the transition process from administrative governance to economic governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors propose some research topics where future studies on corporate governance may prove valuable, especially putting forward an analytical framework which can be used for discussing and analyzing corporate governance in China.Originality/valueThis paper reviews some new trends of literature on corporate governance and makes a contribution to corporate governance studies by providing fruitful directions, extracting the main line and analytical framework for China's mode during the transition process from administrative governance to economic governance.
Risk of marginalization in the process of internationalization
Authors: Ma Zhenzhong , Yang Zhenning 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the process of internationalization and its associated risk of marginalization for the emerging Chinese multinationals; also to examine typical strategies emerging Chinese multinationals employ to deal with this challenge in order to provide insights for Chinese firms that are planning to enter the global market.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of Chinese multinationals that are listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, this study conducts a multiple‐case analysis on three different Chinese multinationals to explore their experiences in the process of internationalization and their unique approaches to the risk of marginalization.FindingsThe results show that internationalized Chinese firms are strengthening their control over core businesses, designing effective corporate governance policy and adjusting their capital structure to increase their actual control in order to minimize the risk of marginalization accompanying their internationalization process.Originality/valueWhile an increasing number of Chinese firms are on a fast track of internationalization to enter the global market, the risk of marginalization has become a prominent concern for emerging multinationals and many newly internationalized Chinese firms are faced with a crisis of identity, and consequently they may be marginalized, with the risk of losing control over their own companies and being excluded from major government projects or significant R&D funding opportunities in China. This paper explores Chinese firms' risk of marginalization in their internationalization process and their approaches to dealing with this risk. The paper's findings will provide important insights for Chinese firms that plan to go international and will make an important contribution to the literature and enrich our understanding of Chinese multinationals and their strategic expansion in the era of globalization.
Developing high relational support services for individuals with long term mental health needs: scheme description and service evaluation
Authors: Davies Jason , Hopkins Mark , Campisi Mark , Maggs Richard G. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a not‐for‐profit (third sector) social care facility designed to provide tenancy and high‐relational support and report an initial multi‐method evaluation of service inputs (what staff provide/facilitate); tenant outcomes; and views of the service.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered using routine information collected on a daily basis over the course of a year, semi‐structured interviews and pre‐post testing.FindingsSupport needs vary over time and across tenants, with almost all support provided during waking hours. With appropriate support the health and wellbeing, personal and community safety, independence and social integration of all the tenants was maintained or enhanced using this social care model. The service was well received and would benefit from being replicated.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is based on data from a small number of individuals and relates to a single setting.Originality/valueHigh‐relational support delivered by not‐for‐profit social care providers can be effective, sustainable and cost efficient for those with complex, enduring and severe mental health problems. This paper shows that such services can significantly improve the social inclusion experienced by individuals within them.
Signpost – a model of self‐directed support and a framework for brokerage
Authors: Hammond Jacky 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a review of the Signposts programme which facilitates individuals in developing self‐directed support, and seeks to share learning from development of this programme across the mental health sector.Design/methodology/approachInformation for the review has been collected through anecdotal reports from individuals in receipt of Signpost services – this has included individuals who have used mental health services, their carers and professionals. The paper frames its work within the national context of government policy and research.FindingsThe complexities of self assessment and self navigation within existing mental health systems are difficult for many individuals to overcome. Based on principles of control and choice, the Signpost system allows individuals to take control of their lives and purchase the care and support they need. It has been important to develop a bespoke quality framework to enable protection of the public purse as well as the individual; Signpost UK has achieved this with its Quality Brokerage Framework.Originality/valueThis paper describes a highly innovative framework delivery of mental health self‐directed support within the personalisation agenda. Through partnership working, the framework not only provides a bespoke provision for mental health clients, but also an adaptable programme across all client groups which enhances principles of choice and control.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) – a survey exploring the views of psychiatrists
Authors: Varghese Susan , Gormez Aynur , Andrews Tim , Griffiths Rachel , Stephenson Matthew 
Published: February 2012

PurposePsychiatrists are among the front‐line professionals involved in the implementation of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS). This paper aims to explore how the safeguards are perceived and practised amongst psychiatrists.Design/methodology/approachThe authors carried out a postal survey among 519 psychiatrists on their views and experiences on DOLS.FindingsA total of 171 psychiatrists (36 per cent) responded to the survey. Nearly three‐quarters of the participants had received DOLS training and 81 per cent of individuals who had training believed that DOLS would protect the rights of vulnerable people. Almost half of both groups agreed that DOLS make a valuable contribution to the provision of necessary care in the least restrictive way possible. The most common concern raised was possible increase in bureaucratic process. Interface between the existing legislations continues to be a grey area for many practitioners with difficulties in interpreting the relevant Code of Practice. In total, 50 per cent of the participants felt DOLS should extend to community placement provisions.Originality/valueThe views and concerns expressed by psychiatrists in this paper are relevant to all professionals working with adults who lack capacity to consent to their care or treatment in any setting. As the process continues to widen, it is important to recognise the issues, encourage use of DOLS process to protect human rights, and to address key gaps in training.
Psychosis in polycystic ovary syndrome – dilemmas in management
Authors: Gumber Rohit , Hobbs Tracy , Cryer‐Rolley Bridget , Biswas Asit 
Published: February 2012

PurposeMental health problems, particularly psychotic symptoms, are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which may be linked to oestrogen signalling cascade following a period of sustained high oestrogen and dysregulation of cortisol. This case report aims to demonstrate a potential link and improvement following the use of Metformin.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes a case of a female with intellectual disability who presents with psychosis coinciding with PCOS and the aetiology of this association.FindingsThe case highlights some key points and complexities encountered in diagnosing and managing an individual with mental and physical health issues and an underlay of family dynamics and insecure attachment. A treatment approach involving recommendations from and joint working between professional groups including endocrinology, is highlighted.Originality/valueThere are very few studies to date that link PCOS to psychosis and only a single case report describes the use of Metformin. In a patient presenting with psychosis and PCOS, the consideration of an association with hormonal changes should be made, especially in patients with changing severity of psychosis and poor response to psychiatric medication. A “multimodal” intervention package needs to be considered for optimum benefit.
Establishing a database for proactive screening of adults with Down's syndrome: when services work together
Authors: Hobson Ben , Webb Diane , Sprague Lynda , Grizzell Moni , Hawkins Cliff , Benbow Susan M. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper describes a service improvement project with two aims: to identify and screen all adults with Down's syndrome aged over 30 years in a defined locality using a standardised instrument to establish functional baselines; and to set up a database to facilitate early diagnosis of dementia in this population.Design/methodology/approachAn assistant psychologist used a standardised instrument to screen participants who were identified through contact with health, social, and third sector, and housing services.FindingsEligible people were identified and screened using an informant‐based measure. Three groups were identified: group 1 showed no significant change; group 2 showed significant change but no signs of dementia; and group 3 showed significant change plus signs of dementia. People with suspected dementia were referred on for further investigation/assessment and supportive services.Practical implicationsTerminology is important in engaging families in a screening project, as is the opportunity to provide information. A proactive screening project can be established by employing working partnerships between intellectual disability and older adult services to aid diagnosis.Originality/valueAdults with Down's syndrome aged over 30 years in a defined locality can be identified through contact with health, social, and third sector, and housing services. Those identified can be screened using a standardised instrument and a database of screening results established in order to establish baselines against which future re‐screening can be conducted. Partnership working between older adult mental health services and intellectual disability services can improve the diagnostic service to adults with Down's syndrome.
E-commerce capabilities of a Ghanaian used car retailer
Authors: Boateng Richard , Budu Joseph , Okai Sheena 
Published: February 2012

Subject area
Enterprise, Strategy.

Study level/applicability
This case study is about a used car retailer in an African country, specifically Ghana. Lessons drawn from the case could be applied in societies which are highly socialised; not individualistic.

Case overview
Ghana is one of the first African countries to be hooked up to the internet. However, there has been a very slow uptake of “traditional” e-commerce applications due to a number of critical factors including a legal framework, and electronic payment system. Despite these challenges, some firms are making strides to use the power of the internet to enhance their operations. For example, the case firm uses social relationships to sell its first stock of cars and to re-design its website. Other findings and lessons from this case could be applied to similar contexts.

Expected learning outcomes
An understanding of how society influences business operations, especially in an African or Ghanaian context. Learners can also draw lessons that could be applicable to enhancing and growing the e-commerce capabilities of offline firms.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes.