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Proposal of a Social Responsibility Indicator Model Based on Systems Dynamics

Author(s): Liliana Ruiz Acosta,David Andrés Camargo Mayorga,Mauricio Becerra Fernández / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This document presents the advances in the construction of an indicator model based on the economic, social and environmental dimensions, which serve to measure the performance of manufacturing companies in terms of Social Responsibility (SR). To model the proposed indicator, the methodology of system dynamics using the iThink® software is used. The main reference for this construction is the work carried out by Pavláková Dočekalová and Kocmanová (2016) that proposes the Complex Performance Indicator (CPI). The sectors that make up the model are two: physical flow, which includes production, workers, innovation, marketing and machines; and information flow, which is represented in Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and in the CPI sector that calculates the consolidated indicator of the three groups (environmental, social and economic). The work contributes to the measurement of the performance of companies that engage in SR actions and shows the relationships and causalities between the sectors and indicators mentioned above.

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A Review of Wagner's Law and Income Elasticity of the Government Expenditures in Iran (1985-2018)

Author(s): Reza Najarzadeh / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Wagner's Law holds that the relative size of public sector increases with the growth of per capita income. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of Wagner’s Law in Iran. We test the Wagner’s Law by incorporating a vector Autoregression model (VAR) and vector error correction model (VECM) for the Iranian economy using 1985-2018 health and education data. The results of the estimates show that this law holds in Iran. The elasticity of government expenditures with respect to national income must be greater than one for the Wagner’s law to hold. However, government spending on health and education have been less than expected. This could suggest that the state does not pay enough attention to health and education. One can conclude that health and education are not priorities of the government in allocating funds to these two sectors.

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Formal Institutional Factors Influencing the Entrepreneurial Intent in Quindío (Colombia)

Author(s): Edwin Tarapuez,Beatriz Guzmán-Díaz,Ramiro Parra-Hernández / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The objective of this research is to analyze the formal institutional framework that influences the intention to create companies in the department of Quindío (Colombia). The study is descriptive and uses the transversal-nature non-experimental methodology. According to the structure of the project and the type of information collected, the research is mixed natured. This work involves obtaining information from two groups of sources that were chosen by convenience: fourteen public and private institutions connected to entrepreneurship in the region, to which a semi-structured questionnaire was applied, and four experts on entrepreneurship on whom an unstructured interview was applied. The research uses the theoretical institutional framework proposed by Douglas North as regards formal institutions. The findings conclude that the works by the different formal entities that support entrepreneurship in Quindío is disperse and that they are not articulated in a specialized and collaborative work scheme that fosters the achievement of a common goal to generate a positive impact of greater magnitude at the departmental level.

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Climate Change, Endangered Environment and Vulnerable Aboriginals of India – A Critical Study

Author(s): Gouri Sankar Bandyopadhyay / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

ABSTRACT: The severe effects of unprecedented climate change are justifiably considered a serious threat to human civilization in general and tribal-rural or aboriginal population in particular. The crisis has been identified globally but its consistently negative effects on indigenous people of the developing countries are not properly measured. In India such effects are projected to impact the millions of lives in folk-tribal heartland. It is historically proved that various effects of climate change such as sea level rise, recurrent floods, draughts, evaporation, increased cyclonic activities like tsunami, rising temperature have badly affected the downtrodden backward people like ‘adivasis’ (Indian tribal) and their tradition-bound livelihood in this subcontinent. Due to changed weather pattern agricultural production has been rapidly declined in the last few decades in India. The present study needs to state that if climate change occurs in such way, India will lose land especially in the coastline and the rural economy will be affected drastically. In fact, climate change is a scary prospect especially for these rural populations whose culture is predominantly subsistence-based and non-urbanized in basic nature. The paper also tries to focus on the age-old indigenous awareness of ills of global warming and ongoing climatic change. The forested tribes have raised again and again their voices against the abrupt tree-falling and the timber merchant-contractors-politicians nexus that lies behind it. Growing social awareness of climate change and balanced sustainable development can minimize the vulnerability of these marginal populations.

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The Effectiveness of Administrative Consolidation Processes in Urban Functional Areas

Author(s): Marian Kachniarz,Zbigniew Piepiora / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Urban functional areas usually extend beyond the city's administrative boundaries. As a result, there is a problem of coordinating effective public service provision between the city and its suburbs. A review of world experience shows that two institutional solutions are usually applied here – intercommunal cooperation or adaptation of administrative borders to the scope of the functional zone. However, the studies so far have not provided an answer as to which method is more effective. The objective of the paper is to compare the processes of adapting administrative borders to urban functional areas. The hypothesis was formulated that uniform management of the entire functional area favors effectiveness and institutional sustainability of public service provision. Princeton in the USA and Lubin in Poland were selected as case studies. Princeton is an example of successful administrative consolidation of the city with the surrounding rural commune, while in Lubin, unfortunately, such a project was not implemented. In the conclusion was found that inter-communal cooperation does not provide sustainable solutions and is exposed to cadenza changes of decision-makers. The most effective seems to be the consolidation of individuals, but its success depends on a very well prepared and transparent procedure.

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Right to Happiness – A Challenge for International Organizations and Governments

Author(s): Titus Corlăţean / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Through all his life, the humans seek happiness. Across the world, people aspire to live happily without fear to something or someone, and in harmony with God or with nature. In a world shaken by economic crisis, natural disasters or armed conflicts, life has shown that to be truly happy, in addition to material wealth, people also need spiritual wellbeing. We need a new paradigm of sustainable development. Economic wellbeing, social and a healthy environment together define the concept of happiness on a global scale. This might be implemented through a generic index named the gross global happiness index. UN, OECD, EC bodies and governments of some countries have understood that only economic indicators are not enough to develop public policies able to find solutions to the problems of the contemporary world. Economic data should be complemented with information designed to measure quality of life not only in material terms. The international community should promote sustainable development capable of ensuring every opportunity to seek happiness. The debates on the subject, held at international level could result, among other things, that the right to happiness should be recognized legally binding. There are already proposals for inclusion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This paper is a call for continued efforts made by the governments of some countries and several international bodies towards the elaboration of public policies able to lead to sustainable development and improving the quality of life.

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Discrimination of Excellence: A Research Agenda

Author(s): Julia M. Puaschunder / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Discrimination is unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things. Long-standing, ample evidence of discrimination and most important attempts exist to legally abolish, economically counter-weight and societally alleviate the negative impacts of discrimination around the world. Yet to this day, there is hardly any description of discrimination of excellence. Unfair treatment of outperformers occurs when focusing away from merit leads to economic inefficiency based on arbitrary decision making.

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Electronic Arts: Strategic Differentiation in the Global Video Gaming Industry

Author(s): Thomas Teeter,Ryan Lunsford / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Electronic Arts Incorporated (EA) is a leading global developer of video game software with FY2018 revenues in excess of $5B. And although the organization has demonstrated innovative leadership in the industry for many years and has an established portfolio of “hit” game titles, industry trends have created an increasingly competitive environment. Digital game distribution, for example, has dramatically reduced the cost of product delivery, but has also negated a previous barrier to entry for new competitors. In a $36B industry that has been completely reshaped by digital content and distribution, EA seeks to better engage and retain players via digital capabilities. This case study analyzes EA’s differentiated competitive strategy founded on three pillars: Player-First, Commitment to Digital, and One EA. Each of these strategic focuses has a direct connection to trends in the transforming video game industry, as the company seeks to expand its player base across platforms, geographies, and business models. Together, these highlight the path for the company to operate more efficiently, create more engaging products and services, and develop increased customer loyalty towards EA games.

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Taste Preference Differences in Juvenile Delinquency

Author(s): Ligiana Mihaela Petre,Alina Atalay / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Smart food policy models for improving dietary intake recommend tailoring intervention to people's food preference. Food choice plays a major role in the psychological, economic, and social aspects of life by expressing preferences, identities, and cultural meaning. Poor health behavior has been associated with delinquency and antisocial personality features have been associated with taste preferences. The purpose of this study was to identify the taste preferences differences between non-delinquent and delinquent population. PrefQuest (PQ) was used for measuring food preferences. 56 participants were included. The results show a statistically significant difference (18.03) between experimental (n=21, M=158.13, SD=30.89) and control groups (n=35, M=176.17, SD=31.19) related to sweet taste preferences, t (54)=2.10, p=0.040, 95% CI [.82, 35.23] and a statistically significant difference (29.30) between experimental (n=21, M=195.13, SD=50.84) and control groups (n=35, M=224.46, SD=47.78) regarding to sweet & fatty taste preferences, t(54)=2.16, p=0.035, 95% CI [2.21, 56.38]. There were no statistically significant differences between control and experimental groups related to salty and salty & fatty taste preferences. The findings could bring a novel insight into the crime prevention strategy based on improving eating behavior, which may contribute to booster the health of the young people with the added benefit of reducing delinquency. Efforts to control delinquency should consider that the adequate emotional reward offered by the food, as an identity and social marker, could be a pathway to psychological rehabilitation in juvenile delinquency.

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The Impact of Using a Robot Mannequin (RoMa) in Visual Merchandising

Author(s): Amirmahdi Hassani,Ehsan Saffari,Alireza Taheri,Minoo Alemi,Ali Meghdari / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Social robots applications are becoming more and more popular in our daily life. Advertising, in this case, apparel advertising, is an area that humans must deal with every day. RoMa is a social robot mannequin that has been designed and developed as a mobile robot for use in the field of advertising and visual trading. In this paper, characteristics such as the interaction of people with RoMa, the impact of using a social robot on the sustainability of a store’s brand name for customers, the desire to revisit the store for another purchase, and the robot's structural features were measured in a Tehran retail store using various tools such as questionnaires, cameras, and a microphone. Finally, customer preferences for the process of selecting and buying clothes as well as an examination of the mannequin’s display features have also been studied.

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The Environment of Professional Activity for the Key Knowledge Workers

Author(s): Mieczysław Morawski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

There is an extensive research gap in the study of methods participation and involvement key knowledge workers in different management processes. There are not many ideas how to manage knowledge workers, and in particular key knowledge workers (KKWs). KKWs – top class specialists, knowledge which they have acquired is not only advanced, but also an innovative and unique one and therefore it is always of highly individual nature. The best specialists (such as KKWs) have right to expect the special treatment adequate to the achieved results and represented potential. The knowledge-oriented enterprise have to create the adequate working environment for the KKWs. The comfort’s zones for the specialists guarantee that they become aware investors of their own intellectual capital. Their engagement is the key issue regarding to the achieving the competitive advantage on the market which is based on the intangible assets. The article has a theoretical character referring to previously conducted by the author of the research. The aim of this paper is develop a model of KKWs’ environment of professional activity within intelligent organization. The study was finalised with conclusions and the list of references. One of the conclusions: The elements of work environment which stimulate creativity are mainly represented by the so-called “soft management" components referring to various aspects of human capital management in an organization. However, these findings need to be interpreted with caution due to present limitations. Further research is necessary that would replicate and extend current study to other questions.

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Forensic Examination of Soil Samples from the Point of View of Physico-Chemical Expertise

Author(s): Georgiana Mardare (Balusescu),Nicoleta-Elena Heghes / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The potential of forensic expertise in the analysis of soil samples has been recognized for a century now, but over the last 20 years, these types of evidence have been much more widely used both as an investigative tool and as evidence in court. Forensic Chemistry is at the crossroads of science with the law, being a discipline apart from its applicability to the judiciary. Samples are obtained from various objects and often contain only very small amounts of chemicals. Most of the time, the sample harvested on the spot is no longer sampled, but it is actually the sample to be analyzed. This is also the condition of aggregation of the sample, the homogeneity of the sample/matrix or the compounds sought. Sometimes, however, even the evidence can be considered chemically homogeneous, and then representative samples (paints, textiles, plastics, etc.) can be sampled. The rest of the materials are heterogeneous (soil, building materials, fire residues, etc.). The extremely rapid evolution of science in recent years has resulted in the development of new, powerful and performing technologies. This evolution and the refinement of analytical tools make it possible at present to perform forensic investigations at the smallest scale of dimensions, with greater sensitivity and with great differentiation intervals. At the same time it is possible to discover unpredictable or previously inaccessible samples.

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Legal Education – The Elevation from a Person to a Citizen

Author(s): Digvijay Singh Bagga,Ravneet Chawla / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The law is acknowledged as the conscience of the public. Legal education has become the ladder to the entity of a citizen. The sovereign nature of the majority of the states further promotes the role of legal education beyond a professional qualification. The researchers found it imperative to explore the relationship between legal education and the becoming of a citizen in its true nature, to the extents of self, family, community, country, and world. Perspectives of students of law, educators of law, law practitioners, qualified professionals in non-legal streams, and judicial officers were included in the sample (N=100, 20 each) and observations were noted using a self-developed questionnaire based on the feedback of 2 members from each group in the pilot study. The findings revealed awareness of rights and duties, self-sufficiency in voicing individual viewpoints, and compassion for mankind in all the groups. The students and teachers credited legal education for the development of critical thinking, leadership in the community, and spirit of the development of human resources in the country and the world. Patriotism, respect for the system, feeling of responsibility towards the fate of the whole society was observed by the law practitioners and the judicial officers. Non-practicing professionals associated their legal education to prudence related to money, a better acceptance of cultures, and planning abilities. The study brings attention to the significance of legal education in development at micro and macro levels.

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Is It Worth Doing Science Online? A Reflexive View on the Online Surveys

Author(s): Andrey V. Rezaev,Anastasia A. Ivanova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The paper addresses the issues and challenges scientific communication is facing in current scholarly practices both within a specific scientific community and public at large. First, the paper presents methodological groundings for studying communication of results as a particular mechanism of operating with discourse. Such methodological framework focuses on the process of ‘black-boxing’ of scientific results. Further, the authors illustrate a way such results go from a hypothesis to a scholarly output, and call for actions. On the basis of the Online Surveys organized and conducted by the American-Russian Research Laboratory at St Petersburg State University (www.tandem.spbu.ru) for a specific field research in 2017-2018, the authors demonstrate gradual detextualization and generalization of results, which are inherent to the specific way of scientific persuasion. Finally, the authors outline the paths of the current transformation of scientific knowledge production and dissemination which calls for further research problematization.

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Cannabis Stock Behavior and Investor’s Expectations on the TSX: A Mixed Method Approach

Author(s): Oludamola Durodola,Deepika Chotee / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This study examines the behavior of cannabis stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange and why investors are interested in cannabis stock. The theory of heterogeneous beliefs, bounded rationality theory and the theory of addiction grounded the study. We employed basic descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis test including an in-depth interview of investors using convenience sampling methods. The study findings showed that cannabis stocks exhibit a higher-level of risk volatility when compared to speculative and growth stocks on the Toronto Stock Exchange within the period under investigation. Other findings show that cannabis stocks share similar characteristics with other speculative stocks but also possess unique features. Finally, investors are interested in cannabis stocks because of its potential for future strong earnings on the platform of the theory of addiction as discussed in the study.

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The Drugs, Lethal Substances Which Have Become Elixir

Author(s): Oana Horhogea / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The drugs are substances which have found receptors in our organism and act by increasing, slowing down or changing the processes of the organ. The scientists have reached a long time ago the conclusion that there exists a biological foundation for the drug dependency. A repeated usage or consumption of some large dosages can represent a serious threat regarding the health state of the individual. Those who abuse a drug are those who not only used it frequently but consider also that they cannot live without it, leading to dependency. This phenomenon regarding the dependency existed during the entire history, yet from the oldest times, people knew also the properties of the drugs, these being used for various purposes, religious, therapeutic, relaxation, etc. In the past, as well as nowadays, the drug was and is considered a substance which can be used in therapy due to some curative properties, but whose effect is sometimes uncertain and deadly for the organism.

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Political Affections on Online Social Network: The Opinative Priority During the Presidential Campaigns

Author(s): Aloha Boeck / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

How does the urgency on publicizing opinions was expressed in the uses of an online social network during a conflicted period of time like the Presidential Campaign in countries such as Brazil and United States? In these scenarios, it seems that it is not enough to simply reflect on certain relevant topics; it seems essential to externalize opinions that seek to establish an intransigent position. To understand this phenomenon, possible evidence can be found in the way communities of fans are organized, guided by the regulation of affections in the media and in education. Thus, the concept of "opinionative priority" is proposed to understand the disputes about the meaning of democracy that emerge in online social networks, being the attempt to corroborate, counter or refute a statement, in a power dispute. It is the tensioning itself resulting from the need to belong, caused by social networks, and participatory culture, because it is not enough to be and be seen, it is necessary to be part of the discussions, or to initiate a new one. These disputes treat diverse opinions as enemies to be exterminated, obliterating the pluralistic democratic condition, supported by the fundamental right of freedom of speech. Therefore, it is understood that the "opinionative priority" is more than a communication process, since it promotes a pedagogical action in which opinion is formed from absence of moderation, once there is no time for considerations; there is only the urgency to defend a point of view in social networks.

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Frictions on Cross Border Cooperation in Criminal Matters Involving Terrorism Threats – Romanian Standpoint

Author(s): Marius-Adrian Arva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In countering terrorist crimes, European organizations with police and judicial jurisdiction have emerged as key players in this field, although often being found on a competitive institutional battleground, especially this being the case of Europol and Eurojust. The methods we used consist in a detailed analysis of applicable European provisions, established doctrine, standpoints, press releases and official statistics, and last but not least the presentation of a well-grounded opinion on the reported disagreements. Through the reform to which Europol is currently undergoing, the Agency is self developing as a central element of the European internal security architecture in conducting investigations and operational actions. We emphasize the tendency to widen the competencies of the European Prosecutor's Office, whose duties are likely to overlap with those of Eurojust, and although Eurojust does not have the vocation of a genuine indictment body, according to the EU Treaty, the European Prosecutor's Office may be established from Eurojust, hence under its oversight. Europol is willing to take on the role of managing EU-wide operational counter-terrorism activities, but as for Eurojust, the measures needed to strengthen the Union's response to terrorist threats can only be implemented by creating a framework narrative in which the European Prosecutor's Office is directly subordinated to Eurojust.

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Behaviors of Professional Athletes in Terms of the Big Five Model Due to the Type of Contact of the Sport Discipline

Author(s): Paweł Piepiora / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Sports disciplines can be divided due to the type of contact allowed with the opponent. We distinguish disciplines with direct and indirect contact as well as non-contact disciplines. The intention of this study was to check if the behavior of professional athletes is determined by the type of contact of sports disciplines. 180 competitive athletes from six sport disciplines, i.e. luge, tennis, wrestling, team mountaineering, volleyball and rugby, were purposefully selected for the study. The research method used was the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory. It was shown that specific samples - lugers, team mountaineers and rugbists are characterized by low neuroticism in relation to tennis players, wrestlers and volleyball players. Athletes of non-contact disciplines stand out by low neuroticism in relation athletes of indirect and direct contact disciplines. Team athletes are distinguished by low neuroticism in relation to individual athletes. On this basis, the following conclusions were made. The behavior of athletes depends on the type of contact of the sport discipline. Behavioral profiles are specific to the requirements of a given sport discipline and are consistent with the average profile of behavior of all athletes, characterized by high conscientiousness and extraversion, average openness to experience and agreeableness. The indicator differentiating

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Adoption History. From Ancient Societies to Contemporary Societies

Author(s): Silvia Timofti / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

From the earliest times, the religious factor has said its word on several social systems. The social factor has been of great importance and relevance to the social construction of the communities as well as to the regulation of the various institutions I have chosen the ones that represent the interests of society. Among these institution is adoption, being one of the oldest law institutions. Adoption is a social phenomenon that has undergone changes that have been inevitable and a breakthrough in the turn of the century. This form of social protection of children, adoption, played a particularly important role in antiquity especially in the institutions of the Jews, the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Indians and the Romans, because the adopted person was perceived as the one to represent the perpetuation of the religious and political interests of the people, after the persons who approached the children died.

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