title: Motivations for Corporate Social Reporting and Non-Reporting in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study From a Public Relations Perspective

authors: Tee, Keng Kok

subjects: Corporate Social Reporting

abstract: Corporate social reporting, embracing the triple bottom line reporting concept, entails
the reporting of economic, social and environmental performance as opposed to the
more narrow focus on conventional financial reporting. Many corporations are now
engaging in environmental and social reporting in an effort to communicate the social
and environmental effects of organisations‟ operations to particular interest groups
within society.
The main objective of this thesis is to examine corporate motivations and hesitations
to undertake social reporting in Malaysia. Most studies have so far applied
quantitative method on themes identification to determine rationales for corporate
social reporting. Little attention has been given to in-depth primary and secondary
data to understand rationales for corporate social reporting in a national context. In
addition to motivation, this study fills the gap in the literature by investigating
corporate reluctance for social reporting.
A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. A mixed method of data
collection, consisting of both semi-structured interviews and corporate social reports,
was used. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with representatives of six
reporting and six non-reporting corporations, and eight non-corporate respondents
representing the Malaysian political and social sectors. In addition to primary data,
corporate social information in annual reports and corporate websites of six reporting
corporations was also collected to support the interviews. Thematic analysis was
applied to identify salient themes to explain both corporate motivation and hesitation
for social reporting. The analysis was divided into two levels: corporation and
society.
At the corporate level, results identify public relations as the central motivation for
social reporting. More specifically, the concepts of image and identity, issues
management, two-way symmetrical and asymmetrical communication, autocommunication,
and publicity are used to explain the adoption of social reporting.
Image and identity and issues management were also among the concepts applied to
explain corporate hesitation for social reporting. However, the results also support
stockholder theory and reveal the lack of public relations understanding to be the
cause of the low acceptance of social reporting. In-depth analysis revealed
organisational legitimacy as the main reason to explain both motivation and
hesitation for social reporting.
Corporations require stakeholder support for their continual existence. At the societal
level analysis, the concept of political economy was applied to explain the limited
social reporting practice in the Malaysian context. Finally, the implications for both
practising as well as neglecting social reporting are discussed using the concept of the
risk society.

text: Motivations for Corporate Social Reporting and Non-Reporting in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study From a Public Relations Perspective Corporate social reporting, embracing the triple bottom line reporting concept, entails
the reporting of economic, social and environmental performance as opposed to the
more narrow focus on conventional financial reporting. Many corporations are now
engaging in environmental and social reporting in an effort to communicate the social
and environmental effects of organisations‟ operations to particular interest groups
within society.
The main objective of this thesis is to examine corporate motivations and hesitations
to undertake social reporting in Malaysia. Most studies have so far applied
quantitative method on themes identification to determine rationales for corporate
social reporting. Little attention has been given to in-depth primary and secondary
data to understand rationales for corporate social reporting in a national context. In
addition to motivation, this study fills the gap in the literature by investigating
corporate reluctance for social reporting.
A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. A mixed method of data
collection, consisting of both semi-structured interviews and corporate social reports,
was used. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with representatives of six
reporting and six non-reporting corporations, and eight non-corporate respondents
representing the Malaysian political and social sectors. In addition to primary data,
corporate social information in annual reports and corporate websites of six reporting
corporations was also collected to support the interviews. Thematic analysis was
applied to identify salient themes to explain both corporate motivation and hesitation
for social reporting. The analysis was divided into two levels: corporation and
society.
At the corporate level, results identify public relations as the central motivation for
social reporting. More specifically, the concepts of image and identity, issues
management, two-way symmetrical and asymmetrical communication, autocommunication,
and publicity are used to explain the adoption of social reporting.
Image and identity and issues management were also among the concepts applied to
explain corporate hesitation for social reporting. However, the results also support
stockholder theory and reveal the lack of public relations understanding to be the
cause of the low acceptance of social reporting. In-depth analysis revealed
organisational legitimacy as the main reason to explain both motivation and
hesitation for social reporting.
Corporations require stakeholder support for their continual existence. At the societal
level analysis, the concept of political economy was applied to explain the limited
social reporting practice in the Malaysian context. Finally, the implications for both
practising as well as neglecting social reporting are discussed using the concept of the
risk society.

year: 2009

title: Development and application of a method for U-Th dating of the Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica

authors: Smith, David W.

abstract: The lacustrine carbonates of the Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica were deposited in lakes proglacial to glaciers advancing through the valley, and now occur as lag and clasts in the glacial drift formed by the glacier. They commonly contain 8 to 25% detritus, including high levels of silica, titanium, iron, manganese, and other elements; making the extraction and purification of uranium and thorium problematic.

A standard U-Th dating process was adapted to deal with the technical problems peculiar to the samples dated. Silica often formed a gel at the head of the U-Th separation column, and was removed using HF. Titanium frequently precipitated out during the conversion of the thorium fraction from a HCl matrix to HNO₃ form (used for further ion exchange purification) causing very low thorium recovery. This was overcome by using much higher volumes during conversion. 

The uranium eluate from the separation column often contained high levels of iron and manganese. These were removed on a small ion exchange column in HNO₃. The resin and wash volumes were adjusted to allow iron and manganese to wash off, but allowing the uranium to be held and eluted subsequently. 

An electrodeposition method was developed to achieve the thin plates necessary for alpha spectroscopy. Silver cathode discs were used in a teflon plating cell, with a stirrer rotating on the spiral planar platinum anode. An NH₄Cl/HCl electrolyte was used, adjusted in pH after sample uptake. 

Of the 62 samples successfully dated, 13 were eliminated for such reasons as low resolution and spectral shift; leaving 17 duplicates, one triplicate and 12 single analyses for further consideration. Samples with low ²³²Th/TIFFS
Th levels were corrected for detrital ²³²Th addition. 

The dates obtained were considered in terms of age, geographic distribution, and uranium isotope ratios and concentrations. δ180 suggested that samples were derived from either Taylor Glacier meltwaters, or possibly Ross Ice Sheet Stage 6 meltwaters, and showed that δ180 values in the meltwaters increased towards the middle of each event. 

Three major events were identified. 
(i) an extensive period of deposition around 240 to 300kA (Stage 9?), This may possibly represent two events, in a lake(s) most likely formed proglacial to an expanded Taylor Glacier. 
(ii) a short period of lacustrine conditions around 175 to 190 kA ago, correlated with either Taylor Glacier expansion at the end of Stage 7, or Ross Ice Sheet thickening at the start of Stage 6. 
(iii) a period of carbonate deposition from 130 to 80 kA( Stage 5), more extensive than that at 175-190 kA. The expanding glacier (Taylor II) then advanced through the carbonates, and those of the earlier events, and redeposited. 

The events interpreted appear to correlate with global interglacials, as suggested by Hendy et al (1979). It seems that during interglacials, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet expands (the absence of a sea ice apron allows increased precipitation). As a result, expansion of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet would be expected as a consequence of greenhouse gas warming, offsetting sea level rises caused by melting of temperate glaciers and ice sheets.

text: Development and application of a method for U-Th dating of the Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica The lacustrine carbonates of the Bonney Drift, Taylor Valley, Antarctica were deposited in lakes proglacial to glaciers advancing through the valley, and now occur as lag and clasts in the glacial drift formed by the glacier. They commonly contain 8 to 25% detritus, including high levels of silica, titanium, iron, manganese, and other elements; making the extraction and purification of uranium and thorium problematic.

A standard U-Th dating process was adapted to deal with the technical problems peculiar to the samples dated. Silica often formed a gel at the head of the U-Th separation column, and was removed using HF. Titanium frequently precipitated out during the conversion of the thorium fraction from a HCl matrix to HNO₃ form (used for further ion exchange purification) causing very low thorium recovery. This was overcome by using much higher volumes during conversion. 

The uranium eluate from the separation column often contained high levels of iron and manganese. These were removed on a small ion exchange column in HNO₃. The resin and wash volumes were adjusted to allow iron and manganese to wash off, but allowing the uranium to be held and eluted subsequently. 

An electrodeposition method was developed to achieve the thin plates necessary for alpha spectroscopy. Silver cathode discs were used in a teflon plating cell, with a stirrer rotating on the spiral planar platinum anode. An NH₄Cl/HCl electrolyte was used, adjusted in pH after sample uptake. 

Of the 62 samples successfully dated, 13 were eliminated for such reasons as low resolution and spectral shift; leaving 17 duplicates, one triplicate and 12 single analyses for further consideration. Samples with low ²³²Th/TIFFS
Th levels were corrected for detrital ²³²Th addition. 

The dates obtained were considered in terms of age, geographic distribution, and uranium isotope ratios and concentrations. δ180 suggested that samples were derived from either Taylor Glacier meltwaters, or possibly Ross Ice Sheet Stage 6 meltwaters, and showed that δ180 values in the meltwaters increased towards the middle of each event. 

Three major events were identified. 
(i) an extensive period of deposition around 240 to 300kA (Stage 9?), This may possibly represent two events, in a lake(s) most likely formed proglacial to an expanded Taylor Glacier. 
(ii) a short period of lacustrine conditions around 175 to 190 kA ago, correlated with either Taylor Glacier expansion at the end of Stage 7, or Ross Ice Sheet thickening at the start of Stage 6. 
(iii) a period of carbonate deposition from 130 to 80 kA( Stage 5), more extensive than that at 175-190 kA. The expanding glacier (Taylor II) then advanced through the carbonates, and those of the earlier events, and redeposited. 

The events interpreted appear to correlate with global interglacials, as suggested by Hendy et al (1979). It seems that during interglacials, the East Antarctic Ice Sheet expands (the absence of a sea ice apron allows increased precipitation). As a result, expansion of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet would be expected as a consequence of greenhouse gas warming, offsetting sea level rises caused by melting of temperate glaciers and ice sheets.

year: 1991

title: Wearable technology for hazardous remote environments: Smart shirt and Rugged IoT network for forestry worker health

authors: Hinze, Annika

subjects: software engineering

abstract: This paper introduces the architecture and details of our wearable IoT solution for workplace health and safety in rugged outdoor environments. We focus on the specific requirements defined by the New Zealand forestry environment as it is the industry with the most fatalities and highest accident rate in New Zealand. Neither consumer-level products nor professional wearables have been found to be suitable for forestry conditions. Furthermore, forestry workplaces cannot rely on existing networking infrastructure, and due to their remote and rugged nature, no permanent setup is possible.

We describe the Hakituri project in which we integrate wearable devices, networking, data analytics, and a buddy system into a novel monitoring solution for worker health and safety. Our wearable IoT solution includes a dynamic network set-up, wearables suitable for forestry conditions, contextual rule-based data analytics, and real-time alerts. A wearable smart shirt carries sensors for collecting personal data from forestry workers, while further environmental sensors capture contextual data. The IoT network is set up for communication in unreliable and rugged outdoor environments. We explore a variety of setups to achieve the best quality outcomes for health and safety in the forestry domain.

text: Wearable technology for hazardous remote environments: Smart shirt and Rugged IoT network for forestry worker health This paper introduces the architecture and details of our wearable IoT solution for workplace health and safety in rugged outdoor environments. We focus on the specific requirements defined by the New Zealand forestry environment as it is the industry with the most fatalities and highest accident rate in New Zealand. Neither consumer-level products nor professional wearables have been found to be suitable for forestry conditions. Furthermore, forestry workplaces cannot rely on existing networking infrastructure, and due to their remote and rugged nature, no permanent setup is possible.

We describe the Hakituri project in which we integrate wearable devices, networking, data analytics, and a buddy system into a novel monitoring solution for worker health and safety. Our wearable IoT solution includes a dynamic network set-up, wearables suitable for forestry conditions, contextual rule-based data analytics, and real-time alerts. A wearable smart shirt carries sensors for collecting personal data from forestry workers, while further environmental sensors capture contextual data. The IoT network is set up for communication in unreliable and rugged outdoor environments. We explore a variety of setups to achieve the best quality outcomes for health and safety in the forestry domain.

year: 2022