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Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the association of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths with mental health, unemployment and financial markets-related search terms for the USA, the UK, India and worldwide using Google Trends. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use Spearman's rank correlation coefficients to assess the relationship between relative search volumes (RSVs) and mental health, unemployment and financial markets-related search terms, with the total confirmed COVID-19 cases as well as deaths in the USA, UK, India and worldwide. The sample period starts from the day 100 cases were reported for the first time, which is 7 March 2020, 13 March 2020, 23 March 2020 and 28 January 2020 for the US, the UK, India and worldwide, respectively, and ends on 25 June 2020. Findings: The results indicate a significant increase in anxiety, depression and stress leading to sleeping disorders or insomnia, further deteriorating mental health. The RSVs of employment are negatively significant, implying that people are hesitant to search for new jobs due to being susceptible to exposure, imposed lockdown and social distancing measures and changing employment patterns. The RSVs for financial terms exhibit the varying associations of COVID-19 cases and deaths with the stock market, loans, rent, etc. Research limitations/implications: This study has implications for the policymakers, health experts and the government. The state governments must provide proper medical facilities and holistic care to the affected population. It may be noted that the findings of this study only lead us to conclude about the relationship between COVID-19 cases and deaths and Google Trends searches, and do not as such indicate the effect on actual behaviour. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to investigate the relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the USA, UK and India and at the global level and RSVs for mental health-related, job-related and financial keywords. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to critically analyse the Criminal Code Amendment (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Act 1999 and Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combating Corporate Crime) Bill 2017 with special focus on the facilitation payment (FP) defence by referring to the UK Bribery Act 2010. The study will showcase how FP promotes disrespect for a good corporate culture inevitable for responsible and sustained business and as to why FP must be abolished to make the Australian regulation consistent with the international standards. Design/methodology/approach: This research is based on primary and secondary sources including the Senate Committee Reports and recent legislative developments in Australia, and the relevant law of the UK. Findings: Australia is lagging far behind comparative jurisdictions including the UK, and the FP defence must be abolished to make the Australian regulation consistent with the international standards and to foster international business backed up by globalisation, competition and interconnectedness of national economies. Originality/value: This paper is the original work of the author and has not been submitted elsewhere for publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the changing nature of commercial leases with specific reference to the landlord and tenant relationship, lease lengths and incentivisation in the post-recessionary UK property market.Design/methodology/approach The research applies data analysis utilising the Estates Gazette Interactive database coupled with survey analysis conducted across three UK cities to investigate and compare the changing nature of the commercial property leasing market and the landlord and tenant relationship.Findings The empirical analysis highlights that recessionary conditions prevalent in the market from the 2007 global crisis has caused a reassessment of lease structures, leading to shorter lease terms and increased use of incentives, as tenants have been empowered to negotiate more flexible leases due to their stronger market position.Originality/value This paper builds upon previous research conducted back in 2005, investigating commercial leases in the market up-cycle. The recent volatility in the commercial property sector requires fresh insights and in-depth analysis of lease patterns, length and covenant strength, which is fundamental for investor decision-making. In addition, past research has tended to consider solely landlord or occupier perspectives, whereas this research offers new insight into the landlord–tenant lease negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Changes in the UK social care sector over the past 20 years have effected a fundamental shift in commissioning and delivery relationships. This "quasi-market" challenges existing theory and models around competitive advantage. This study, as outlined in two earlier articles, addressed weaknesses in the defining framework for analysis and business planning in this new environment; the purpose of this concluding paper is to propose a new perspective for those interested in entering this market. Design/methodology/approach -- The original research comprised a constructive research approach through a single holistic case study, using qualitative research methods including document analysis, interviews, secondary data, observations and facilitated meetings. Findings -- This final paper offers a structured framework of analysis and response: the External DriversModel. Research limitations/implications -- The model was developed for a scenario impacting upon a social housing agency, with ambitions to enter this market as a new provider; it may require further research to establish its generalisability to other organisations and other sectors. Originality/value -- This series of three papers adds to existing knowledge by critiquing current business models, and positing a potential development to existing contingency theory: the External Drivers Model. The study has resulted in a number of outputs including an outline of tools to assist in using the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Changes in the social care sector over the past 20 years have effected a fundamental shift in commissioning and delivery relationships, creating new markets for social housing services. This paper aims to examine how far existing theories around competitive advantage in markets are compatible with the new public management (NPM) approach to the market, or whether there is a need for a new approach to business planning for agencies that addresses the particular characteristics of this specific quasi-market. Design/methodology/approach - This paper draws upon original research developed through a single holistic case study of a UK social housing service, using qualitative research methods including document analysis, interviews, secondary data, observations and facilitated meetings. Findings - Existing business theory and models around competitive advantage do not suit this "contrived" NPM market. A new framework or model will be needed for analysis and business planning in this new environment. Originality/value - This paper adds to existing knowledge by critiquing current business models, and positing a potential development to existing contingency theory: the external drivers model The study has resulted in a number of outputs including an outline of a toolkit to assist in using the model. The model requires further research to establish its generalisability to other organisations and other sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyse enterprise policy in the United Kingdom (UK), in relation to decisions about policy, policy delivery, entrepreneurial practice and academic/consultative research. Design/methodology/approach – The paper offers and discusses a conceptual framework for analysis of the actors, decisions, and issues involved in enterprise policy-making and policy delivery alongside the interests of the businesses they seek to serve and the academics who provide research support – to shed new light on the UK Government's challenge in satisfying its stated remit. Findings – It considers whether an all-embracing enterprise strategy – with clear ownership and shared commitment – is a realistic alternative to the more piecemeal approach we have experienced in the past. The issues are grounded in key lessons from systems and strategy to assess their relevance to the debate. Originality/value – The change of government in the UK in 2010, the first change for 13 years, makes this debate apposite and the relevant issues discussed are an important challenge for the new coalition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a study into demand management practices in a trading organisation. It aims to bring together a number of key principles, including forecasting, promotions management and power, and examine how they impact the operations of the organisation. On the basis of its findings, the paper also aims to propose a framework for efficient use of forecasting resources. Design/methodology/approach -- A single case study approach was used. Iteratively designed semi-structured interviews with different departments were used to identify the key challenges facing the organisation. Data analysis was then used to confirm some of the issues and identify emerging issues in the industry. Findings -- Intermediary trading organisations in the UK food industry occupy a vulnerable position in their supply chains. For promotional products, in particular, the supply chains are characterised by unmatchable upstream-downstream lead times and little flexibility in demand and supply requirements. Furthermore, consumers may be getting used to buying certain products only when they are on promotion. Practical implications -- Trading organisations suffer disproportionately from the inefficiencies of their supply chain and, consequently, need to take a leading role in co-ordinating and synchronising supply chain activities. They also need to understand their supply chain positioning, relative power and the factors that are beyond their control. Originality/value -- The demand management operations and challenges of intermediary food traders have not previously been studied in great depth. The paper provides new knowledge and further contributes to academic thinking by proposing a forecasting framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The Asian business community has been noted for its contribution to the UK economy. This vibrant sector of the small to medium-sized enterprises population serves to illustrate diversity in terms of spanning sectors including manufacturing and services, entertainment and fashion, hotels and property, food and pharmaceuticals. This paper seeks to draw out trends within this increasingly important sector of the economy. Design/methodology/approach - The study reports on a research project which comprises the latest phase in a seven-year, longitudinal study of the richest 200 Asian business people in the UK. Findings - The analysis suggests that the Asian business community has delivered significant and sustained growth which is higher than average growth in the UK. Originality/value - For policy makers and the business support community, this paper offers a greater understanding of the dynamics behind the success stories and thus offers opportunities to tailor any engagement with this community appropriately. For academics it adds to the growing literature of minority ethnic businesses in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper seeks to shift the focus to the implications of various quality management systems, as a pervasive feature of modern organisational life, for business excellence. Design/methodology/approach - A mail-based survey is conducted among a total of 150 UK-based European Foundation for Quality Management-affiliated organisations. This quantitative methodology sounds appropriate, given that there is a relative dearth of evidence regarding the nature of quality management systems as quality-driven organisations pursue continuous improvement through such systems. Findings - Together, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) series and other total quality management (TQM) models were seen as helping organisations in the journey towards business excellence. Despite the apparently high level of interest in various forms of quality management systems, however, a major discrepancy was found between the rhetoric of these systems and the reality of their practice. For example, little evidence was found that the surveyed organisations were developing a more strategic approach to managing soft aspects of quality management. The results also highlighted the fact that the approach emerging in many organisations seems to be relatively the antithesis of that of the TQM-driven organisations. Research limitations/implications - A fundamental limitation of this study relates to its research method and the fact that it draws its data from only a mail-based survey. Therefore, additional follow-up research in the form of case studies - qualitative methodology - should be conducted in order to examine more deeply and validate the survey results. Practical implications - Specifically, despite being viewed as potentially a threat to quality management initiatives, indeed, the paper is in many respects a spirited defence of the distinctive contribution and value of ISO 9000 as a basis and stepping-stone for TQM success. Originality/value - This paper updates the earlier work and significantly highlights the move to broaden the aims and process of quality management systems by using international-wide quality management frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores accounting change in the product development department of a small UK chemicals manufacturer. An institutional framework of accounting and a framework of power mobilisation help tease out the dynamics of the processes of change. The case highlights power over resources, decision making and meanings as being key facilitators to the implementation of accounting change. It also demonstrates barriers to change and conflict which emerge as new accounting routines fail to impinge on existing laboratory ways of thinking Focusing on the processes of accounting change within a specific organisational setting illuminates aspects of the change process which more conventional "static" approaches would likely ignore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a research conducted by the author related to implementation of Lean approach, a business process improvement methodology (BPIM) in Great Britain's HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) department. It states that Lean was applied to redesign customer service delivery process, change management processes and mindsets of leaders and staff. For evaluation of Lean, ten websites of HMRC were identified by the Pacesetter Programme Office along with interviews of 296 employees. It highlights that many employees felt that Lean was imposed and the front line staff had no say in its implementation. It reports that employees paid attention to increasing productivity and preventing errors rather than focusing on customer needs and their own motivation level.

The number of customer relationship management (CRM) implementations has grown dramatically in recent years. However, few academic studies of the issues associated with the implementation of the concept are available. This paper offers a modest contribution through the analysis of a case study of a CRM implementation at a UK-based manufacturing company. The case study illustrates that CRM is a complex and holistic concept, organised around business processes and the integration of information technologies. The study also highlights that implementing CRM requires effective leadership, sourcing, targeting and evaluation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to investigate e-business and e-supply strategies in Scottish small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper reviews academic literature and recent survey reports on the degree of e-business adoption in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The qualitative methodology undertaken is described, findings are discussed and implications from this study for e-business strategies outlined. This was an exploratory study using a small sample with possible geographic biases. Nevertheless, the data so far are in line with findings from larger studies. The role of support agencies is examined, as well as how government could better serve the SMEs. Finally conclusions and future research plans are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of new business start-ups cannot be over-emphasised. The UK government has taken actions designed to stimulate the growth of new businesses and aid their survival. The identification of barriers to entry is important, together with strategies to minimise their impact. The UK continues to lag behind the USA in its levels of entrepreneurship. The removal of barriers to start-up is key to rectifying this situation and stimulating the new business aspect of the economy. The paper highlights the government's position in furthering entrepreneurship, draws on initial primary research into student barriers to start-up and makes recommendations for how higher education institutions can assist in breaking down the barriers identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of UK companies is adopting the practice of establishing employee working patterns under a system of annualised hours to offer greater flexibility. This paper describes the concept, examines the advantages of adopting such a system and gives a broad framework to support its effective introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the curriculum of business studies developed for the sixth formers in Great Britain. This A level project emerged, with its main objective: to see if an A level in Business Studies should be developed in schools. Such a general objective had to be supported by a number of interdependent sub-objectives: 1) that a body of material suitable to the educational needs of the sixth former had to be isolated and appropriate teaching methods developed; 2) that material had to be drawn together in a way which could provide a student with an understanding of the nature and problems of business; 3) that, assuming one and two to be feasible, a programme had to be developed and used in a limited number of schools across the educational spectrum. The two-year programme that emerged owed its strength to the careful integration of syllabus, examination structure and teaching methods, carefully balanced by a support programme. The syllabus content seeks to integrate together four main elements: (a) finance and accounting; (b) the interpretation of quantitative data; (c) the study of human behaviour and (d) the understanding of the economic environment as it affects business.

Purpose ? To examine why UK business seems to be lacking in opportunities for employees to be creative.Design/methodology/approach ? This briefing is prepared by an independent writer.Finding ? The article states that over half the workers questioned are not encouraged to be creative. Many respondents said they often keep ideas to themselves, and that there are no rewards for innovation. The manufacturing industry is particularly suffering.Practical implications ? Highlights the value of incentives. Offers advice on how to encourage innovation within organizations.Originality/value ? The paper is an independent piece based on a recent study of the UK workforce. Gives a good overview of the current state of innovation in UK business and suggests ways to turn the trend around. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study conducted by the authors related to challenges faced by manufacturing companies of Great Britain becoming product-service. It states that profits of manufacturing units have declined in the country and so companies are moving towards becoming product-service providers. The authors studied an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) where they conducted interviews with employees. It mentions that five areas were identified in which the OEM had to face challenges including product-service culture, supplier relationships and internal processes. By product-service culture it means culture traditional manufacturing companies need to adopt to develop service for customers. It highlights that internal processes refer to acquisition of new capabilities.

Outsourcing is one of the fastest-growing and arguably most important areas of business activity. This article examines the differing motivations behind and approaches to outsourcing of public and private sector organisations in the UK, and what they can learn from each other. It compares the experiences of a police force with that of a financial services company and concludes that neither appears to have a monopoly on good practice, but that the private sector could benefit from the public sector's more structured approach, while the latter could benefit from the more strategic orientation of the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses value preferences and basic cultural behavioural patterns in two fairly diverse countries/societies: Britain and Yugoslavia. It is, from the very outset, assumed that both countries are undergoing a period of significant social changes, both political and social. The UK is introducing the policy of devolution with significant constitutional changes pending, while the Yugoslav society is recovering from the conflict in the area, economic slowdowns and is searching for its new identity. Due to long-standing British interests in the Balkans, the attractiveness of a virtually unpenetrated Yugoslav market and the vast opportunities for investment pending the solution of political crises in the Balkans, it is expected that British investors, companies and entrepreneurs will be interested in establishing business links in Yugoslavia, and therefore it is more than useful to analyse basic cultural patterns of both societies, expressed through public opinion polls and informal exchange of opinions (used only in anecdotal manner). It is concluded that although both societies are shaped in the dominant European manner, there are also many differences between them, but none of them so significant as to pose an obstacle to a successful business co-operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the objectives of the British Department of Employment, which appeared in the White Paper Building Business…Not Barriers. The prime aim of the department is to encourage the development of an enterprise economy. The way to reduce unemployment is through more businesses, more self-employment and greater wealth-creation, all leading to more jobs. There are key aspects of the Department's work. First is to promote enterprise and job creation in growth areas such as small firms, self-employment and tourism. Second is help business to grow and jobs multiply by cutting red tape; improving industrial relations by ensuring a fair balance under the law and encouraging employee involvement. Third is to improve training arrangements so that young people get a better preparation for work, and adults obtain the skills they need to compete in the world. Proposals are presented for Employment Law. These are: considering action to deter ill-founded claims of unfair dismissal through the possible introduction of a fee for employees before taking a case to an industrial tribunal; extending from six months to two years the qualifying period after which employers are required to give a detailed statement of reasons for dismissal; and exempting firms with fewer than ten employees from the requirement to allow a woman to return to work within 29 weeks after the birth of a child.

Focuses on the plans of the government in organizing the national apparatus for training and employment in Great Britain. Establishment of the Manpower Services Commission; Changes in the expectation of the society on business, industry and commerce; Role of industry in a modern society.