scholarly journals The strategies used by SMEs to survive during economic crisis in the Sultanate of Oman

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Riyadul Mahi ◽  
Jalila Khalaf Nasser Awlad Thani
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Oil Revenue ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
The Times ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Business Returns

It is said that 97% of the economy of the earth comes from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Most manpower employed worldwide are by SMEs. SMEs in general, play a very crucial role for the development of a country. In developed nations, SMEs contribute to 60% of the country’s economy while SMEs in Oman contribute only 15%. Oman is classed as a developing country hence the SME scene is still raw. Depreciation in the price of crude oil put a lot of pressure in Oman’s economy for the last couple of years since oil revenue accounts for about 60% of the country’s earnings. During the times of economic crisis, the SME section are the ones who are affected the most. They pass through a gloomy phase that create a negative impact on their business returns. This study delved into various approaches taken by SMEs to survive the economic crisis which is stunting the growth of the country. A qualitative research was conducted among several SMEs in Oman. In-person interviews were administered, and questionnaires were handed out to the SME owners. The results showed that the SME owners had to conduct major layoffs. Using only the core workforce was one of the major strategies utilized by the SMEs.  The owners didn’t expand their businesses, rather focused on expanding their products and services to reach a larger target audience. Discounts, offers, extensive external and social media marketing were also critical means of survival. Most of the SMEs are optimistic and are receiving a lot of assistance from the Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) of Oman to ensure their survival

Economic crisis and the crisis of national identity in Slovenia: toward a new notion of social order

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-306
Author(s):  
Ana Ješe Perković ◽  
Tjaša Učakar
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
European Identity ◽  
Political Elites ◽  
The Public ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
The People ◽  
The Times

This paper addresses the influence of the economic crisis on national identity in Slovenia. It first analyzes the creation of the contemporary national identity following independence in 1991 that was established in relation to a negatively perceived Balkan identity, which represented “the Other,” and in relation to a “superior” European identity that Slovenia aspired to. With the economic crisis, the dark corners of Slovenia's “successful” post-socialist transition to democracy came to light. Massive layoffs of workers and the bankruptcies of once-solid companies engendered disdain for the political elites and sympathy for marginalized groups. The public blamed the elites for the country's social and economic backsliding, and massive public protests arose in 2012. The aftermath of the protests was a growing need among the people for a new social paradigm toward solidarity. We show that in Slovenia the times of crisis were not times of growing nationalism and exclusion as social theory presupposes but, quite the contrary, they were times of growing solidarity among citizens and with the “Balkan Other.”

scholarly journals Managing Public – Private Partnership Market in the Times of Economic crisis

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna K Krześ-Dobieszewska
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Public Private Partnership ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Times ◽  
Universal Nature

The article focuses on the issues and problems caused by the economic crisis of 2008 for public-private partnership (PPP). The challenges faced are presented from the point of view of a public entity, a private partner and a financial institution, as well as the relationships between these parties and the influence of economic issues on these relations. The most crucial of these challenges seems to be: the pressure on public finance and growing difficulties in financing the public infrastructural investments, the rise of the economic risk of investments and the necessity of sufficient and appropriate transfer and management of risk, and finally – the lack of interest of financial institutions to finance long-term liabilities. The aim of the author is to provide a precise description and diagnosis of the issues mentioned above, which might improve the strategic management of PPP market as well as management of projects. The article is based on experience, documents and working papers concerning the countries and markets of the European Union but the presented conclusions should be of more universal nature.

scholarly journals The effect of auditor experience, type of personality and fraud auditing training on auditors ability in fraud detecting with professional skepticism as a mediation variable

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-43
Author(s):  
Gede Sanjaya Adi Putra ◽  
Anak Agung Ngurah Bagus Dwirandra
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Professional Skepticism ◽  
The Public ◽  
Intentional Actions ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
The Times

The occurrence of fraud or intentional actions that do not appear at the time of auditing will have a negative impact on financial reporting. Along with the development of the times, fraud is increasingly prevalent. And the greater the public demand that the auditor can detect fraud, is something that the auditor must respond to. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire, with 71 respondents consisting of all auditors working in the Public Accounting Office (KAP) spread across Bali Province. Respondents were selected based on the purposive sampling method. The analysis technique used is Partial Least Square (PLS). The results showed that audit experience, personality type, cheating audit training, and professional skepticism had a significant positive effect on the auditor's ability to detect fraud. And skepticism of being able to become a mediator is partially mediated by audit experience variables, personality types, and fraud audit training on the auditor's ability to detect. Future studies are expected to be able to expand the scope of the research area and use other variables that have not been used in this study.

Modernisation of Higher Education – Willful Action or Wishful Thinking? The Case of Bulgaria

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Elena Blagoeva
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The impact of the last global economic crisis (2008) on the European economy put a strain on higher education (HE), yet it also pushed the sector towards intensive reforms and improvements. This paper focuses on the “Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in the Republic of Bulgaria 2014-2020”. With a case study methodology, we explore the strategic endeavours of the Bulgarian government to comply with the European directions and to secure sustainable growth for the HE sector. Our research question is ‘How capable is the Bulgarian HE Strategy to overcome the economic and systemic restraints of Bulgarian higher education?’. Because the development of strategies for HE within the EU is highly contextual, a single qualitative case study was chosen as the research approach. HE institutions are not ivory towers, but subjects to a variety of external and internal forces. Within the EU, this is obviated by the fact that Universities obtain their funds from institutions such as governments, students and their families, donors, as well as EU-level programmes. Therefore, to explore how these pressures interact to affect strategic action on national level, the case method is well suited as it enabled us to study the phenomena thoroughly and deeply. The paper suggests the actions proposed within the Strategy have the potential to overcome the delay, the regional isolation and the negative impact of the economic crisis on the country. Nevertheless, the key elements on which the success or failure of this Strategy hinges are the control mechanisms and the approach to implementation. Shortcomings in these two aspects of strategic actions in HE seem to mark the difference between gaining long-term benefits and merely saving face in front of international institutions.

An Expert Ranked List of Pro-nature Conservation Behaviours for Public Use

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Barbett ◽  
Edward Stupple ◽  
Michael Sweet ◽  
Miles Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mass Extinction ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Short Paper ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Ranked List

The planet is facing an anthropogenic mass extinction of wildlife, which will have a grave impact on the environment and humans. Widespread human action is needed to minimize the negative impact of humans on biodiversity and support the restoration of wildlife. In order to find effective ways to promote pro-nature conservation behaviours to the general population, there is a need to provide a list of behaviours which will have worthwhile ecological impact and are worth encouraging. In a novel collaboration between psychologists and ecologists, 70 experts from practical and academic conservation backgrounds were asked to review and rate 48 conservation related behaviours. According to their judgement, this short paper presents a ranked list of pro-nature conservation behaviours for the public in the UK and similar landscapes. This includes behaviours people can engage in in their homes, their gardens, on their land, and in their roles as citizens.

The Relevance of Trust

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada de Melo-Martín ◽  
Kristen Intemann
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Epistemic Trust ◽  
Proper Role ◽  
Scientific Institutions ◽  
Public Policy Decisions ◽  
Scientific Phenomena

This chapter offers a brief overview of the importance of epistemic trust and the relevance that scientific institutions and practices have in promoting or undermining warranted public trust. Epistemic trust is crucial for the production of scientific knowledge, the ability of the public to make sense of scientific phenomena, and the development of public policy. Normatively inappropriate dissent is more likely to take hold and erroneously affect people’s beliefs and actions in a context where the trustworthiness of scientists is called into question and where there is an excessive reliance on scientific information when it comes to assessing policy decisions. Thus, finding ways to facilitate and sustain warranted epistemic trust, as well as increasing understanding of the proper role of science in public policy decisions can help mitigate the negative impact of dissenting views.

scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Working Conditions, Employment, Career Development and Well-Being of Refugee Researchers

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Ourania Tzoraki ◽  
Svetlana Dimitrova ◽  
Marin Barzakov ◽  
Saad Yaseen ◽  
Vasilis Gavalas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
The Public ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
The Impact

The ongoing ‘refugee crisis’ of the past years has led to the migration of refugee researchers (RRs) to European countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RRs often had to work from home and/or to continue their social, cultural and economic integration process under new conditions. An online survey carried out to explore the impact of the pandemic on the refugee researchers showed that RRs found it difficult to adapt their everyday working life to the ‘home’ setting. The majority have had neither a suitable work environment at home nor the appropriate technology. Although they stated that they are rather pleased with the measures taken by the public authorities, they expressed concern about their vulnerability due to their precarious contracts and the bureaucratic asylum procedures, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on these major issues. The majority of RRs working in academia seem not to have been affected at all as far as their income is concerned, while the majority of those employed in other sectors became unemployed during the pandemic (58%). Recommendations are provided to the public authorities and policy makers to assist RRs to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on their life.

Informal and Nonformal Adult Learning in the Coal Seam Gas Protests: Mobilizing Practices and Building an Environmental Justice Movement for Change

2021 ◽  
pp. 074171362110053
Author(s):  
Tracey Ollis
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learning ◽  
Coal Seam ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Coal Seam Gas ◽  
The Public ◽  
Theory Of Practice ◽  
The Earth

This case study research examines informal adult learning in the Lock the Gate Alliance, a campaign against mining for coal seam gas in Central Gippsland, Australia. In the field of the campaign, circumstantial activists learn to think critically about the environment, they learn informally and incidentally, through socialization with experienced activists from and through nonformal workshops provided by the Environmental Nongovernment Organization Friends of the Earth. This article uses Bourdieu’s “theory of practice,” to explore the mobilization of activists within the Lock the Gate Alliance field and the practices which generate knowledge and facilitate adult learning. These practices have enabled a diverse movement to educate the public and citizenry about the serious threat fracking poses to the environment, to their land and water supply. The movements successful practices have won a landmark moratorium on fracking for coal seam gas in the State of Victoria.

scholarly journals Veterinary Education during Covid-19 and Beyond—Challenges and Mitigating Approaches

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1818
Author(s):  
Jennifer Routh ◽  
Sharmini Julita Paramasivam ◽  
Peter Cockcroft ◽  
Vishna Devi Nadarajah ◽  
Kamalan Jeevaratnam
Keyword(s):  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Learning Gain ◽  
The Public ◽  
Core Competences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Veterinary Student ◽  
Knowledge Content ◽  
Video Group

The public health implications of the Covid-19 pandemic have caused unprecedented and unexpected challenges for veterinary schools worldwide. They are grappling with a wide range of issues to ensure that students can be trained and assessed appropriately, despite the international, national, and local restrictions placed on them. Moving the delivery of knowledge content largely online will have had a positive and/or negative impact on veterinary student learning gain which is yet to be clarified. Workplace learning is particularly problematic in the current climate, which is concerning for graduates who need to develop, and then demonstrate, practical core competences. Means to optimise the learning outcomes in a hybrid model of curriculum delivery are suggested. Specific approaches could include the use of video, group discussion, simulation and role play, peer to peer and interprofessional education.

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