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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]

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]

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]

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 paper begins the task of explaining why the American business elite has remained white, male and mostly native-born Protestants for a century, as verified in a previous paper (P. Temin, forthcoming). I argue that the evidence is inconsistent with the hypotheses that the stability is due to discrimination on the job or to principal—agent factors. The most likely explanation is that this demographic group makes the best business managers. I suggest that this in turn is not because they are inherently superior, but because they have had access to superior education, a result of past discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our approach in this response is as follows.1 In § 1, we try to identify accurately Boatright's central claims--both about Goodpaster's original paper and about matters of substance independent of that paper. In § 2 and 3, we discuss the plausibility of those claims, first from a legal point of view and then from a moral point of view. Finally, in § 4, we defend the concept of paradox (and, in particular, the Stakeholder Paradox) as a limitation on practical reason which is not necessarily to be lamented. In fact, we believe, some paradoxes are better preserved from rather than guided toward resolution. [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]

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]

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.)

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.)

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 article explores how policies that reduce barriers to entrepreneurship impact underrepresented groups differently depending on local norms and cultural beliefs. While prior studies suggest that underrepresented groups should benefit more than other groups do from policies lowering entry barriers, the empirical evidence is mixed. We argue that the absence of normative and cognitive support can undermine the effectiveness of these policies for underrepresented groups. To explore this, we leveraged the staggered rollout of a policy that reduced entry barriers to entrepreneurship in Mexico. The results show that while the policy increased the number of businesses founded by men, it had a small and statistically insignificant impact for women, thus exacerbating the gender gap in entrepreneurship. Further analyses suggest that while women were not more likely to become involved in entrepreneurship as founders, they did become engaged in alternative roles within new ventures, often leaving other forms of employment to enter unpaid work in businesses founded by men in their household. The effects of the policy on the gender gap in entrepreneurship and unpaid work were more pronounced in areas with a strong patriarchy logic and among married individuals. This research highlights the need to consider context in the design of policies intended to encourage entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship is the property of Routledge 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.)

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 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]

Automation plays an increasingly important role in the global economy. Engineers strive to combine automated devices with mathematical and organizational tools to create complex systems for a rapidly expanding range of applications. Automation is limited only to manufacturing, though manufacturing is a primary application of automation. T-ASE defines automation broadly to include new application areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health; construction, transportation and security. Research in automation includes many topics at the opertaional enterprise level such as system modeling, analysis, performance evaluation.

Introduces the gist of papers published in the September 2002 issue of 'The Annals of Regional Science' on regional development. Examination of the effects of urban versus local economies on factor of production by Roberta Capello; Changing nature of telecommunications industry and large-scale national monopolies that defined it in the past; Businessmen's preferences for a business location in developed nations. [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]

According to a widely credited model in the business ethics literature, ethical decisions are a function of two kinds of factors, personal (individual) and situational, and these factors interact with each other. According to a contrary view of decision making that is widely held in some areas of business research, individuals' decisions about ethical issues land subsequent actions) are purely a function of their self-interest. The laboratory experiment reported in this paper provides a test of the person-situation interactionist model, using the general theoretical and experimental framework used in the experimental economics literature. One individual and two situational factors relating to moral intensity were examined which may influence decisions to misrepresent information in the course of business activities. The individual and one situational variable were significantly related to participants' actions. The interactions among individual and situation variables were not individually significant, although the model including interactions had a much higher level of statistical significance. Gender was significant, both directly and in interaction with moral development, suggesting that it may be worthy of further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

This paper on discourse makes for lively reading, because it offers such rich examples of the discourse it analyzes. At different points in the paper, the author refers to the idea that "discourse creates institutions" as well as the idea that "institutions create discourse." The power of discourse is that it creates a circular thread whose beginning and end are hard to find. This paper is therefore especially helpful by analyzing a discourse at the time it is fabricated, to trace how the reinforcing loop is set in motion. Moreover, the author does not lose sight of how the circle might be broken. While many accounts of strong social forces overlook the possibility of resistance, this paper remembers to look for glimmers of resistance and remark on the significance of their absence. At the moment of creation of a discourse, its promulgators seem to exhort earnestly. The author frequently notes how the discourse is offered "unproblematically" and "without irony." I think these terms offer important critiques and also warrant exploration. In my remarks, I will probe some issues raised by the paper's thought- provoking examples and discussion, exploring what might be problematic in judging a discourse to be "un-problematic." In particular, I will look at three features of unproblematic discourse: its earnestness, its failure to apprehend contradictions, and its silencing of resistance. I will consider the implications of these critiques, particularly the knowing standpoint of the critic, the distraction from alternatives in the hunt for contradictions, and the underestimation of the workers' own sense of irony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comments on the article "Post-Earnings Announcement Drift and the Dissemination of Predictable Information," by Leonard C. Soffer and Thomas Lys and the model they developed to infer the extent to which the information in quarterly earnings announcements is incorporated into investors' expectations for the subsequent quarterly earnings. The author offers validity tests to determine if Soffer and Lys's model is capable of producing the statistical results that they do. The findings of the paper encourage the author to continue research into earnings surprise research for firms reporting profits.

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to propose two new constructs reflecting different levels of entrepreneurial intentions which precede actual venture creation: impulsive entrepreneurial intention and deliberate entrepreneurial intention. With a large survey database, this research empirically illustrates the importance in differentiating these two constructs and explores factors facilitating entrepreneurial intentions. Specifically, it examines how different types of prior experiences and social networks contribute to these two levels of entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Data for the analysis come from a survey database on immigrant professionals in Silicon Valley, where 17 key professional associations in Silicon Valley participated (15 of which are Chinese and Indian). The survey was distributed to 10,840 individuals, and 2,273 responses were received. Findings |!|#8211; This research enriches the understanding of a widely-discussed concept of entrepreneurial intention by introducing two levels of entrepreneurial intentions: impulsive entrepreneurial intention and deliberate entrepreneurial intention. It is shown that personal characteristics and cultural background in general contribute to impulsive entrepreneurial intention, which reflects a person|!|#39;s willingness or desire to start up a new business in the future. On the other hand, for deliberate entrepreneurial intention, different types of prior experiences and active involvement in social network can be more important to potential entrepreneurs through helping them identify and configure various resources needed for subsequent entrepreneurial behaviors. Originality/value |!|#8211; This is an original research. The analysis, discussion and result of the paper have not been published anywhere before submission of the manuscript. The differentiation of impulsive entrepreneurial intention from deliberate entrepreneurial intention in this paper helps understand entrepreneurial behaviors better and improve the predictability of entrepreneurial behaviors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether the current economic slowdown in four CEE countries was accompanied by strong growth of private-label share as theory suggests. Unexpectedly, based on the data of Nielsen Retail Measurement Service, we prove that the private-label share grew relatively slowly, although all four countries had a large potential for growth of this share. We demonstrate that the key reason behind this development was probably the massive in-store promotions that were decreasing the price gap between private labels and branded products. The managerial implications of these findings for both manufacturers and retailers within the region are discussed. [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.)

Civil coercion has its limitations, government regulation is only as effective as enforcement and investors base their estimates of firm value on information available from the firms themselves and from other sources. While voluntary disclosure is construed as being selective or incomplete, negative non-financial news such as details of fines imposed for environmental violation is reflected in lower stock prices for a short duration. This paper evaluates the persistence of goodwill capital for a sample of Indian companies from select industries, graded by their environmental performance. We conclude that investor concern differs across industries and that the correlation of environmental performance with firm valuation is, at best, weak and short-lived. Periodic scrutiny and announcement of industry environmental performance by appropriately equipped independent agencies could help coordinate and sustain stake-holder pressure on industry. [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]