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Created six years apart, Scrooge and Pickwick exhibit extraordinary similarities in their backgrounds and plot trajectories. Scrooge and Pickwick start out as relatively isolated businessmen who make journeys of discovery and learn lessons in compassion. Their metamorphoses are deepened through their relationships with loyal employees. This article explores the scant details about the two men's business lives, including Scrooge's role as a creditor and his connection to the Second Royal Exchange in London, which burned down in January 1838. It also contextualizes Pickwick's ties to the South American sugar trade and the enslaved labor that contributes to his great wealth. The article speculates on the parallelisms between Scrooge and Pickwick and the effects of seeing them both within the scope of their identified business practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we all know day by day the technology is getting better and better, the production of counterfeit currency has been rapidly increasing. The counterfeit currency problem is faced by almost all countries. Since the real economy is affected, it has affected the economy of the country. Even when the drastic step of demonetization was taken in 2016 to overcome counterfeit currency, this problem did not end. The only one solution for this problem for a common man is to detect the fake currency, by using the fake currency detector machine. These machines are used in banks and large scale business, but for small scale businesses or for a common man these machines are not affordable. There are lot of researches taking place on this matter by using deep learning, image processing and machine learning techniques. This paper gives the complete methodology of fake note detector machine, which is affordable even for a common man. By implementing the applications of image processing techniques we can find out whether the currency notes are fake or not. Image processing technique consists of a number of operations that can be performed on an image, some of which include image segmentation, edge detection, gray scale conversion, preprocessing etc. The proposed system will detect the counterfeit currency of new denominations by distinguishing each denomination based on its size and depending on the features of each currency the comparison takes place. Based on the features matched, it detects whether the currency is counterfeit or not. The system have advantages like simplicity, reliability and cost effective. Which is affordable by a common man since the common man is the one who will be effected most, when the counterfeit currency are circulated in the market because he has to pay the real value of that currency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fang Yongbin's (1542–1608) cache of paper-based ephemera—733 notes, invoices, and 190 name cards—now held in the Harvard-Yenching library, discloses the multidimensional expertise of the stationery dealer in late Ming China. This article explores how businessmen from Huizhou prefecture turned to the trade in writing materials to improvise with new forms of cultural entrepreneurship in the late sixteenth century. Introducing the diverse contents of the cache, I demonstrate how Fang's involvement in the sale of desktop tools drew from, and creatively combined literary endeavors, shop-keeping, and artisanal labor. Unsettling discrete conceptions of "scholar," "merchant," and "craftsman," Fang's career reveals how stationery dealers vied to usurp custodianship over the material culture of calligraphy. The Harvard-Yenching cache registers the increasingly powerful influence exerted over the business of culture by those skilled in the making and marketing of writing materials: largely forgotten salesmen whose services made the art of writing possible in the first place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term electronic word of mouth has witnessed a constant evolution due to the technological advancements and increased internet mediated consumer conversations. The topic has become a subject of interest for both business professionals and academic scholars with its growing importance in business research. Past studies mostly discussed the dynamic nature of eWOM under the strong influence of emerging concepts and technological innovations. However, very few research studies have viewed its extensive evolution in the context of a basic model of communication. In this research paper, a theoretical review was conducted to systematically organize the literature findings to develop an eWOM communication model. From participants' classification and motivation to generate eWOM to its influence on receivers, the model elaborates all the basic elements of communication process which also include content type and transmitting platform. This paper significantly contributes to elaborate the basic eWOM communication process by the extensive analyzation of the existing body of knowledge which will help in building a strong foundation of the topic for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines is an ongoing engineering task that requires numerous research efforts. New concepts of injection or combustion systems require preliminary investigation work using research engines. These engines, usually single-cylinder, make it possible to isolate a single variable in a complex combustion mixture preparation process, thus enabling analysis of the changes being made. However, these engines are relatively expensive and their designs are offered by a limited number of manufacturers. The authors of this paper have successfully undertaken the engineering task of modifying an existing research engine cylinder head in such a way as to implement an electronically controlled variable valve timing system of the intake system. The process of reverse engineering, together with design assumptions that finally contributed to the construction of the assumed solution has been described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has struck businesses across the globe with unprecedented impacts. The world economy has been hit hard and firms have experienced a myriad of challenges, but these challenges have been heterogeneous across firms. This paper examines one important dimension of this heterogeneity: the differential effect of the pandemic on women-led and men-led businesses. The paper exploits a unique sample of close to 40,000 mainly formal businesses from 49 countries covering the months between April and September 2020. The findings show that women-led micro-businesses, women-led businesses in the hospitality industry, and women-led businesses in countries more severely affected by the COVID-19 shock were disproportionately hit compared with businesses led by men. At the same time, women-led micro-firms were markedly more likely to report increasing the use of digital platforms, but less likely to invest in software, equipment, or digital solutions. Finally, the findings also show that women-led businesses were less likely to have received some form of public support although they have been hit harder in some domains. In a crisis of the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence tracing the impact of the shock in a timely fashion is desperately needed to help inform the design of policy interventions. This real-time glimpse into women-led businesses fills this need for robust and policy-relevant evidence, and due to the large country coverage of the data, it is possible to identify patterns that extend beyond any one country, region, or sector, but at the cost of some granularity for testing more complex economic theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Serbian Journal of Management is the property of Serbian Journal of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to continue and extend the ongoing conversation about greatness in American business. Design/methodology/approach: This survey, conducted in 2021, replicates and extends McCormick and Folsom's 2001 and 2011 rankings of the greatest entrepreneurs and businesspeople in American history. The authors' pool surveyed 51 experts to develop an updated ranking and explore factors of greatness. Findings: Henry Ford topped the ranking followed by John D. Rockefeller and Steve Jobs. Business scholars ranked Oprah Winfrey the greatest female and minority businessperson. Originality/value: The authors extend previous research by surveying the authors' expert pool about factors of greatness in American business history. "Ability to imagine or envision the future" ranked highest with "created wealth for shareholders" in last place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ad-gnosis is the property of Ad-gnosis Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Engineering Research & Development (IJERAD) is the property of International Journal of Engineering Research & Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper looks at how an innovative policy comes to be transferred to another country and be successfully implemented. We explore three key dimensions (time, location, and people) in policy transfer studies using two cases of international aid (Saemaul Undong and e-Government projects). Utilizing a case study method, this paper upholds the predominant role of the policy entrepreneur over the environment (different time frame and different social, political, economic systems). The stakeholder analysis shows that policy entrepreneur's role is critical in making policy transfer successful. In part, this argument is in line with previous "Advocacy Networks" studies, such as that of Keck and Sikkink (1998), highlighted the importance of policy entrepreneurs being able to navigate in the networks of international development. This paper aims to contribute to the literature by applying Dolowitz and Marsh's policy transfer framework in the international aid context and calls for further empirical research employing the network analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender roles demand that women devote more time to non-market labor such as childcare and household responsibilities. Therefore, the labor market hinders women's ability to compete with their male counterparts, whose time is less subject to the demands of non-market work. The result is a performance gap between men and women. To obtain the flexibility to more efficiently perform both their market and non-market work, many women choose to be self-employed and operate their businesses from home. Using a large sample of US firms, we find that women who choose to operate their own businesses from home are able to narrow the performance gap between men and women entrepreneurs. Plain English Summary Women partially overcome societal disadvantages by running businesses from home. Women business owners achieve significant synergies by working from home that enable them to narrow the gap in performance relative to men. An analysis of over 600,000 small businesses reveals that there is a significant gap in performance between businesses run by men versus those run by women. Prior research shows that men enjoy structural advantages over women due to society's demands on women's time to perform household duties or provide childcare. We find that women are able to narrow the resulting performance gap by operating their businesses from home, providing them increased flexibility to manage their time. Our paper indicates that supporting women-owned businesses with policies that grant greater flexibility or more equitably or efficiently distribute household work can improve economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to examine media liberalization and especially its impact in the post-Suharto regime from the human security point of view. Furthermore, this paper seeks to explain the development of media liberalization in Indonesia and its impact on civil rights in regards to obtaining genuine information and the quest for true and reliable information. An increasing number of top businessmen owning media companies, following political and economic liberalization, have been one of the most important phenomena over the course of past few years. The acquisition of media companies by businessmen and politicians will indirectly influence the content of news reports. As the main element of democracy, media must be neutral. However, amid of capitalization of media, media bias has been commonly happening in Indonesia. Overall, the media has failed in their responsibility to keep a neutral position, and this is a violation of ethical journalism. This partisan media emerged especially in the post-Suharto administration due to the deep involvement of politician-media owners who are behind the news transmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using manually collected data in Chinese-listed firms from year 2008 to 2018, this paper studies that how does teacher-turned businessperson curb or improve accrual-based earning management and real activities manipulation. Results show that top management team (TMTs) with academic experience manage earning less through accruals and manipulating real operating activities. Further studies show that when firms with no-big4 auditors or less analysts tracking, TMTs with (out) foreign experience or political connection, the inhibition of academic experience on the earning management is more pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing trend towards computerization and competition in supply chains results in uncertainty and quick variability that make the decisions difficult for both levels of retailers and manufacturers. In this paper, two Bi-Level Stackelberg Models (BLSMs) are developed under non- and agile conditions in the presence of strategic customers. Our main novelty approach in this paper is to consider both levels competing with each other in a sequential game to determine the optimal production and order quantities and prices with and without agile abilities. In addition, both proposed models are simplified singlelevel using the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) approach. Then, they are remodeled by a Robust Optimization (RO) technique due to existing uncertain parameters. To have a better assessment of the models' efficiency and applicability, they have been implemented in a real case and finally, the results are compared and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the Chinese central government's anti-corruption policies and restrictions on Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadres' conduct, many rural cadres still hold or join lavish banquets, but in secret. Why do cadres take such risks? Why is banqueting so important for them? This ethnographic study in one rural county shows how instrumental banqueting (fanju) and associated interactions enhance exchange among rural cadres and businessmen, which can be understood as a process of relational work. This relational work exaggerates and adorns participants' personal relationships and constructs a moral basis for corruption. This style of relational work uses the Confucian notion of li as an excuse to show benevolence(ren), creating "ritualized relational work." This paper contributes to an understanding of the resilience of guanxi practices during President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose While the topic of “umbrella branding” strategies for manufacturers’ products in the business-to-business literature has received attention, much less has been written about umbrella branding strategies in the hospitality industry. With the aid of a theoretical framework, this paper aims to explore three types of behavioural characteristics: alliance attribute, communication behaviour and alliance management, to examine cost and service benefits for alliance success within one umbrella organisation in the German hospitality industry. The theoretical framework of the paper built on the model of Vanpoucke and Vereecke (2012), incorporating a top management perspective to test and extend an umbrella brand.Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews with a sample of senior managers were carried out in Germany at the headquarters of Ringhotels e.V. Content analysis of the data collected was implemented to increase understanding of the research phenomenon with regard to relationships and the conceptual framework applied. The results were presented in the tables with discussions about the qualitative research.Findings The results of the study showed that behavioural characteristics played a significant role in explaining overall alliance success on cost and service benefits. A good level of quality presented in Ringhotels’ services, marketing, risk and coordination was found to be a better predictor of success when absence of management and lack of trust hampered good performance.Originality/value The study offers insights into the management of relationships within Ringhotels e.V. and how these can be better managed. The main contribution of the work fills in a gap currently existing in the literature about umbrella branding within the hospitality industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper mainly an analytical study of the first lady of Islam Hazrat Khadija R.A the pious wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The paper also deals about the noble personality of Um-ul-Momineeen Hazrat Khadija-ul-Kubra (R.A). After the first revelation she accepted Islam and then always tried to contribute in strengthening Islam. She scarified for Islam and devoted his whole wealth in favour of Islam. The paper discusses the personality and character. Hazrat Khadija (RA) is one of the famous ladies among all the women of the world. You were counted among the noble Arabs from the tribe of Quraesh. She is not only a wealthy woman, but also a great businessman, well-mannered, and a beacon of light in the ignorant Arabian society. She was among the early won Muslims and who accepted Islam. This research paper highlights the major qualities of the personality and character and high status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collected Papers of the Law Faculty of the University of Rijeka / Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta Sveučilišta u Rijeci is the property of Pravni fakultet Sveucilista u Rijeci and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Historica. Historia Contemporánea is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper identifies whether there was a performance difference among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) led by men and by women in Vietnam during the period 2005-2013 and aims to provide explanations for the differences, if any, in various performance indicators. The paper adopts a quantitative approach using a firm-level panel dataset in the manufacturing sector in 10 provinces/cities in Vietnam in five waves from 2005 to 2013. Fixed effect models are estimated to examine the influence of firm variables and demographic, human capital characteristics of owners/managers on firms' value added, labor productivity and employment creation. We found that men led MSMEs did not outperform those led by women on average. Although the average value added was lower for female-led firms in the informal sector, the opposite was true in the formal sector where women tend to lead medium-size firms with higher value added and labor productivity. The performance disparity was more envisaged across levels of formality and less clear from a gender perspective. Moreover, while firms owned by businessmen seemed to create more jobs, firms owned by women had a higher share of female employees. No significant difference in business constraints faced by women and by men was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to expose the pattern and mechanism of Roman private enterprise as the rudimentary form of capitalistic business. Design/methodology/approach: By means of historical analysis and theoretical reconstruction, the author retraces the background and foundations of business through slave as the initial stage of private enterprise. Findings: A comprehensive view of public and private entrepreneurship at the end of Republic and the beginning of Empire is presented. The riddle of "unnaturally" dear slaves in Rome (as compared with free labor and slaves in other countries of antiquity) is scrutinized. It is shown that "excessively" high demand for them was largely determined by their institutional worth: thanks to dominica potestas, they appeared to be the key organizational resource for expanding private industrial business. The framework of private enterprise securing limited liability for owner and turning "business slave" into a kind of director is brought to light. Research limitations/implications: The results of this research allow historians to retrace the origins of modern private enterprise to classical antiquity, while economists and managers get an opportunity to better understand its nature and organizational status of those owning and managing it. Practical implications: Leaders and executives can draw from the paper an object lesson of how, remaining within the existing political system, legal regulation and economic traditions, to make a radical innovation whose true meaning and social potential are so immense and far-reaching that get evident only many centuries later. The findings and conclusions the author comes to may be used in educational courses on economics, entrepreneurship, management, business history and so on. Social implications: An instructive model of conciliation of interests is scrutinized. "Directors" – those organizing and managing a business but not owning it – were, as well as workers, recruited by coercion and legal regimentation of their relations with proprietors. The polarization of their institutional roles was at the bottom of private enterprise from the very outset. The state created incentives for initiative and competent business men in subjection to well-offs to work hard, on one hand, and made their masters to use these incentives to public and their own profits. The benefits of all parties were taken into account, though, of course, not to the same degree. Thereby, a kind of social compromise embodied in a novel institution was attained to. Originality/value: This paper is the first to demonstrate in relief the background and framework of Roman private enterprise as well as the functions and organizational status of its "director." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the role of mental health in self-employment decisions. We find evidence of a relationship between psychological distress and self-employment for men that depends on type of self-employment and severity of psychological distress. Specifically, there is suggestive evidence of a causal link from moderate psychological distress to self-employment in an unincorporated business as a main job for men. Additionally, we find evidence that long term mental illness can significantly increase the probability of self-employment in an unincorporated business for both men and women. Our results suggest that individual difficulty in wage-and-salary employment is the likely mechanism for this connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the scientific names of many cultivated and well-known medicinal fungal species have been changed. However, the results of taxonomic and nomenclature works on these economically important fungi are often overlooked or ignored in applied researches. The incorrect use of scientific names may cause uncertainty in research and in the global medicinal mushroom market. In this paper, we briefly review the current taxonomy and nomenclature of "Fuling" medicinal mushroom and make a proposal for biochemists, pharmacists and businessmen on the correct use of scientific names related to this species. Based on the recent taxonomic results and nomenclatural proposals, the use of the names Wolfiporia extensa, W. cocos and especially Poria cocos for the "Fuling" mushroom are incorrect and misleading; therefore, the acceptance of the names Pachyma hoelen or Wolfiporia hoelen is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the networks, aspirations, and outcomes of "mom entrepreneurs", defined in this study as female entrepreneurs actively caring for children (from birth to age 18). Although men and women found businesses at similar rates, the outcomes of businesses started by men and women tend to be dramatically different. This is influenced by many factors, one of which is the role that many women play in child rearing. This study explores the networks of mom entrepreneurs, how mom entrepreneurs define success for themselves and their businesses, and self-reported ratings of success on these measures. More specifically, this paper evaluates the impact of one identifying as a mom entrepreneur, the relation between the size of one's network and business characteristics and outcomes, and the impact of a spouse's employment on women's motivations and aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Critical African Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The literature on entrepreneurship has developed a huge body of fruitful research to explain why women do not engage in business as often as men. However, relatively little is known about the role that different business models may play in driving women's entrepreneurial activity, which is examined in this study. In this paper we develop a model to empirically test the relationship between women's motivations to become entrepreneurs and their willingness to embark on business through cooperatives, a particular organizational model. We find that the fit between women's needs and expectations and the guiding principles of cooperatives is decisive for the materialization of female entrepreneurship. Furthermore, we explore the role that institutions can play in fostering this link. In doing so, we extend the literature on women's entrepreneurship by highlighting key factors to better channel the development of this potential resource for economic development. Our confirmatory model highlights the role of cooperatives as a type of organization particularly suited to the interests and needs of women entrepreneurs. Thus, the promotion of this business model can be useful to improve the number of women entrepreneurs and, in turn, enhance economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify what are the main causes that lead strategies to decline at execution phase.Design/methodology/approach The paper adopted the strategy of survey with the 69 Brazilian businessmen. The questionnaire was developed from 16 causes pointed out in the literature and the results analyzed using Cronbach’s α coefficient, multidimensional scaling, exploratory factor analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient.Findings The results of statistical analysis showed that the main causes are primarily associated to leaders’ defaults during execution strategies, lack of support and feedback of senior management, no involvement of the teams during the strategies formulation, failure of communication on the strategic objectives in all organizational levels, and others.Research limitations/implications The 69 businessmen work in different sectors and there may be specific causes for each sector. The research presented by this paper did not have objectives to analyze specific sectors of the economy.Practical implications The results are extremely important and useful for managers during the implementation phase of the strategies and researchers in the field of business strategies.Originality/value There are no research with the same focus and objective presented by this paper about Brazilian companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of this study described the present condition and improvement of Library collection in the central coastal districts, of Andhra Pradesh. This paper discussed here enhancement of library collection on user demands with the user interest that is, information requirement groups are like house wives, business men, employed users, unemployed users, retired persons and children. Collecting data through the structured questionnaire, interview and observations in the library in the month of December, 2020 to January 2021, respectively. Total number of questionnaires distributed 100 each of each district central library that is 300 distributed out of the response is 90.33%(271). This survey limited to conduct in district central libraries in central coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh that is three districts such as Krishna, West Godavari, and East Godavari districts. This study found that there is an importance of increase document collection in both aspects that electronic documents and conventional documents. There is a need to allocate to more funds to the district central libraries in central coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes lopezobradorism, based on political identities theory (Aboy Carlés, 2001a) and Ernesto Laclau´s concept of populism (2005). Assuming that lopezobradorism has constituted a populist political identity, this paper analyzes how this identity articulated demands and extended its electoral base between 2005 and 2018. Particularly, we highlight the antagonistic displacements and mutations of lopezobradorism as a political subject. In this sense, we observe that in 2005-06 AMLO presented himself as "the candidate of the poor" and established a political frontier between rich and poor, while in 2012 he was more centered on insecurity and corruption, trying to "reconcile" with some social sectors for his protest post-2006. In 2018, he accomplished to articulate his priority against poverty and insecurity, adding a strong discourse against corruption and trying to include politics, businessmen and famous people in his coalition; in this way, lopezobradorism suffered its last mutation establishing a frontier between "a corrupt elite" and "the people". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Študijné Zvesti AU SAV is the property of Institute of Archaeology SAS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Aberdeenshire-born Niel Malcolm 'Callum' McLean was an individual who rose to prominence in European mercantile circles in the colonial Indonesian port of Surabaya in the interwar decades of the twentieth century. In discussing his life and times, the paper reflects on a number of larger themes, pertaining chiefly to empire and to the Scots' diaspora, understood not only in terms of dispersal but also of return. McLean, it argues, was a new kind of 'expatriate'. Thanks not least to improved global communications, he was able to maintain a presence not only in 'the East' but also on his native turf in Aberdeenshire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are seen by governments and NGOs as engines of job creation, growth and generation of income. Policies and programmes are therefore based on the assumption that the solo self-employed and micro-sized entrepreneurs will graduate and become small. But we have known since the 1980s that this assumption needed to be looked at critically. Research in developing countries revealed that graduation hardly existed there. And if this is true in emerging economies, would it not also be valid in industrialized countries where rhetoric and policies are based on this assumption too? What we see in the South might be valid in the North as well. The research was repeated first in the Netherlands, focusing on graduation and job creation in MSMEs. In this paper, a longitudinal data set was used of a cohort of entrepreneurs in the Netherlands that started in 2008. In total, 629 entrepreneurs were surveyed annually for four years. A main finding of the paper is that graduation hardly existed and only 8.3 per cent created jobs over the course of four years. Policies worldwide need to be reassessed and reviewed in order to bring them in line with reality. We recommend global, in-depth, cross-country research to reconfirm these findings. A more thorough understanding can serve as a basis for new debate on the effectiveness of present policies and programmes on MSME development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings With the Japanese apparel market in decline, there is a pressing need to understand how, if at all, apparel manufacturers can survive. The vertical integration of the SPA business model is providing benefits to apparel manufacturers, with those adopting the model showing resilience to the overall downturn of the market. The author-reviewed article has investigated whether the use of an own brand strategy is influenced by four key concepts, and how they function within apparel manufacturers. Particular attention is paid to the practices used by those that have adopted the specialty store retailer of private label apparel (SPA) business model.Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigaciones Historicas is the property of Universidad de Valladolid, Facultad de Filosofia y Letras and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Chilena de Derecho Privado is the property of Fundacion Fernando Fueyo Laneri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Palermo Business Review is the property of Universidad de Palermo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose Agribusiness managers oftentimes find it difficult to gain practical experience in an area they have had very little practice. Habitually, they rely on their own business acumen, and tacit knowledge to navigate unfamiliar territory. What does the manager do when the problem is ill-formed, fuzzy and messy? This paper aims to integrate societal stakeholders like agribusinesses and environmentalists by using the Community of Practice (CoP) framework to help analyze and effectively use knowledge and practical experiences on problems facing the food and agriculture industries.Design/methodology/approach The multi-disciplinary analytical framework suggests multiple research strategies and methods. Because environmentalist-agribusiness collaborations involve complex stakeholder, relationship and social processes, case research may be the most appropriate means for initial investigations of these issues. The authors applied an exploratory approach starting with a search of a water and land stakeholder collaborations followed by the selection of specific cases, the collection of secondary case data, and a systematic qualitative content analysis. For this paper, the authors focused on 13 initiatives in agribusiness involving water and land (e.g. the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative and Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines).Findings The argument is that firms that use elements of the CoP are better at working through the wicked problems than firms that do not. When elements of the CoP (community, domain and practice) play a significant role in addressing the wicked problem, best practices over a pre-determined time develop. Establishing policies and standards for education and research, technology and research, facilities and operations. More specifically, they relate, in an illustrative manner, how they could quantitatively measure the results that were generated through the use of a specific practice.Research limitations/implications This paper has focused only on the land and water constraint aspects. A variety of other stakeholder issues warrant consideration including motivations, contingencies facilitating partnership building, changes in production and consumption and collaborative learning processes. As stakeholder objectives are met, change or diverge, the stakeholders may become less willing to broker and negotiate linkages between the firm and other domain stakeholders, and potentially affect the firm’s competitive advantage. One should also be mindful of the methods of effective engagement, which are able to incorporate and integrate the knowledge, skills, resources and perspectives from many actors are needed to undertake these problems.Practical implications To facilitate the discussion on water sustainability between agribusiness firms and environmental groups, it is important for agribusinesses to have some basic understanding of how much water is consumed, evaporated and/or polluted in a given amount of time. Likewise, environmental organizations will need to have a basic understanding of associated physical (freshwater shortages in the supply chain) and financial risks (increase costs or reduced revenues). Both parties need to stay open to challenges and dilemmas of the wicked problem.Social implications Farmers, agribusiness firms and environmentalists are the de facto and principle managers of the most productive land and water resources on earth. Their decisions will shape the surface of the planet in the coming decades. Settling on a common strategy of quality of waters resources, potential land use and land management fundamentally involves the interests of all stakeholders. By considering the divergent values, different perspectives and lived experiences of stakeholders and the inextricable link to land, it is found that managing water resources sustainably is a wicked problem.Originality/value The effort it takes to find and implement solutions requires the engagement of internal and external stakeholders (relationships) and access to actionable research (knowledge) to manage through the industry’s prickly challenges. For some, ecological goals are foremost, whereas for others, profit and market objectives are paramount for survival. Their relationships may be a common means for the stakeholders to reach ultimately incompatible agendas. The authors characterize water and land constraints in agriculture as a wicked problem. The wicked problems require a new corporate mindset, involving multi-discipline approach of new collaborations and processes to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]