Individual Freedom Vis-à-Vis Integrity of the State: A Study with Reference to Apple iPhone

Advancement in telecommunication and networking, especially the mobile-based communication systems, has contributed enormously towards the integration of nations and societies in the form of a ‘global village’. While the technological advancements have made connectivity across the globe so much easier, they have also raised concerns of comprising our privacy and security in the process. The case illustrates the conflict between a technology giant (Apple) versus a superpower country (United States) on sensitive issues of terrorism and national security. The business firm in the case decides to put its commitment to customers ahead of the government’s demands of unlocking the phone of a terrorist in question. The conflicting stands of the two parties highlight the issues of privacy (of a customer—who happens to be a terrorist in this case) versus national security. The government was of the opinion that the security of the nation is paramount and must be given precedence over anything else. Apple viewed the demand from the government as a breach of security assurances given to its customers at the time of product sale. The case raises sensitive issues like responsibility of a business firm to various stakeholders, the obligations of a firm to the customers, the obligations of the democratic government to its citizens, the value systems of a company, the privacy concerns of the citizens and so on. The case raises pertinent questions as to which concern is most urgent and paramount or which one should get preference—privacy of individuals, promises made by the companies or security of the nation? It also makes us ponder regarding the issues we may confront in future—Will incidents like these be more frequent in future? Can we sacrifice freedom of the citizens in the name of security? Can a government sneak into anyone’s private life at will? Are citizens being over-cautious and finicky? Do companies need to join the fight against terrorism rather than worrying about their company policies, protocols or impact on profits? The case provides a context for raising diverse perspectives on these issues and helps facilitate deliberations in focused manner.

EXPRESS: National Culture and the Cyclical Behavior of R&D Expenditure

This article examines the cyclical behavior of business (firm-financed) R&D expenditure at the national level, using a panel of 64 countries spanning about 4 decades. R&D is considerably more volatile than GDP and tends to be procyclical. We adopt the Hofstede framework to investigate systematically cross-national heterogeneity in comovement and volatility of R&D. Similar to prior studies, a higher R&D intensity (R&D expenditure / GDP) is associated with more uncertainty accepting, long-term oriented, and indulgent countries. Notably, R&D behaves less procyclically in more uncertainty accepting, individualistic, long-term oriented, and indulgent countries, and it is less volatile in more masculine, individualistic, long-term oriented, and indulgent countries. That is, a culture with a higher propensity to invest in R&D tends to follow business cycles less closely (i.e., lower comovement) and have more persistent spending over time (i.e., lower volatility). Furthermore, higher comovement or volatility of R&D indeed harms national productivity and innovativeness. Therefore, this research broadens our understanding of the role national culture plays by demonstrating (1) that it affects considerably the cyclical behavior of R&D and (2) that this cyclical behavior is another conduit through which culture influences economic performance.

Views of People of Ahmedabad Regarding Use of Social Media for Business Advertising

Social media play an important role now a days. Social media is not only used to maintain connection between friends, family members, relatives and known persons but also used by majority of the companies, institutions, business firms for promotion and marketing works to increase sales. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Google Plus are some of the important and popular social media which is used by huge number of people worldwide. No company/business firm can think about success without the use of social media now a days. Social Media Marketing is a part of Digital Marketing which is an emerging field. Traditional marketing is losing its appeal day by day. Conducting marketing and promotional works through social media is cheaper, quicker and more attracting. Our research shows that customers prefer social media more to purchase products and business firms are also using social media rapidly and getting success. In our research work, we also found customer satisfaction level and the level of utilization of different social media.

Cath-all-party: theoretical-methodological framework of learning and ideology position on the example of parliamentary elections of 2019

The article highlights the basic scientific approaches to understanding the concept of "electoral party", identifies trends in the evolution of understanding of the term and the change of scientific paradigms in its interpretation. The authors conclude that the electoral party is a modern kind of party characterized by blurring the boundaries of the social base, the lack of a clear ideology and professionalization and personalization of its internal structure.The article reveals the historical evolution and formation of modern approaches to the interpretation of the "electoral party", identifies their varieties. The main subtypes of electoral parties include: electoral-professional parties, cartel parties, stratarchies, modern personnel parties, program parties, business firm parties, "big tent".Content analysis of the programs of the parliamentary parties in 2019, namely, "Sluga narodu", OPHZ, "Batkivshyna", "Golos" and "European Solidarity", using the formula of Hee Min Kim and Richard Fording, determined the ideological position of each of them. Authors conclude that most of 2019 parliamentary parties tend to be centrist and don’t have clear ideological position.Thus, it has been found that by most attributes, parliamentary parties in Ukraine can be classified as electoral, because by eroding the social base and trying to get support from the widest possible electoral circle, parliamentary parties lose their ideological attachment. It allows them to get maximum electoral resalt (Sluga narodu? 2019), but is counterproductive in terms of abuse of populism and inability to fulfill all program promises. The most conservative political forces include European Solidarity and the Voice. At the same time, it is the least liberal in terms of the ideological content of the OPZZ.

Drivers of ICT investments in bakery and sugar confectionery processed food sub-sector in India

PurposeInformation and communication technology (ICT) is a general-purpose technology, which plays an important role in improving the efficiency of a business firm. Nowadays, investment on ICT has become necessary for every business firm in different sectors of the economy. However, firms need to be very cautious while investing on a particular ICT, which is suitable for their businesses. Thus, it becomes necessary for the firm to understand its internal organizational characteristics to invest better on ICT. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to understand the organizational factors, which influence investment on ICT at the firm level.Design/methodology/approachThe technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework is adopted to understand the organizational factors which influence a firm's ICT investment. The sample for the study is the firms belonging to bakery and sugar confectionery sector, which is one of the important sub-sectors of processed food industry in India. The data for analysis is extracted from a secondary source, namely the Prowess Database. The study uses two-step system GMM, a method of generalized method of moment (GMM), to identify the organizational determinants of ICT investment at the firm level.FindingsThe study finds that previous-year investment on ICT has a significant impact on firms' present-year investment on ICT. The result of the econometric method also shows that firms which are larger, labour-intensive and highly liquidated are the ones investing more on ICT in the present study.Research limitations/implicationsAs mentioned, the study examines the ICT investment determinants of firms belonging to one of the important sub-sectors of processed food industry of the Indian economy. However, the result of the study is not to be generalized since it is related only to a specific industry. Further, the data used in the study is limited by secondary sources and therefore, requires data from primary sources for in-depth investigation of ICT investment determinants at the firm level.Originality/valueThis paper bridges a research gap by examining the determinants of ICT investment of one of the important industry sectors in particular to developing countries. The paper contributes to the growing research on information technology adoption by using factors within the TOE framework to explain a processed food firm's investment on ICT.

The Roles of School Principal Leadership in Developing English Teachers’ Creativities in Palu

This research is a descriptive qualitative that explaines and describes any pertinent things related to the school principal leadership and teachers’ creativities which occur now at the research spot. This study aims to investigate the roles of the school principal in encouraging, driving, and directing teachers to be creative in performing their works. Results indicated that in encouraging his teachers, the school principal: 1) provides conducive climate and condition by involving his teachers in designing school programs and by welcoming his teachers’ comments and arguments on any policies he applies or any decisions he takes; 2) introduces and assures his teachers that education paradigm has changed therefore the school should be managed as a business firm in the area of public services where the most thing that should be considered is how to satisfy customers; 3) informs clearly that in evaluating the staffs’ performances he applies reward and punishment policy; and 4) optimizes managerial functions especially in monitoring what happens in the classroom. In driving the teachers, the school primcipal should applies his or her policy and delegates several responsibilities and jobs to the right persons. In directing the teachers he or s lets his or staffs free to do their best.

Structural, Psychological, and Socioemotional Factors That Determine Innovation Decisions in Family Firms

This chapter explores the structural, psychological, and socioemotional factors in innovation in a funeral home in Mexico and analyzes the firm's stage in the innovation process. This qualitative study examines socioemotional wealth through the FIBER dimensions and the stage in the innovation process through the Readiness for Innovation in Family Firms (RIFF) framework. The findings suggest that socioemotional wealth has not allowed the implementation of governmental bodies. The existence of two generations in management has allowed the firm to take advantage of the knowledge and experience of the old generation and the skills of the young generation to continue innovating in products, processes, and services. The firm has the willingness and ability to adopt innovation, although SEW's accumulated endowment has limited long-term innovations as the expansion of the business to other states. This chapter addresses the Arriaga Group case study, a well-known family business firm in Hidalgo, Mexico.

Family Business Firms' Branding

Company decision making tends to center on Millennials, particularly because they represent a significantly large market with many behavioral characteristics and patterns that elude organizational leaders. Family business scholars have not yet delved into this contemporary phenomenon, which is relevant due to shared similarities between millennials and family businesses' values/beliefs. That said, are family business firm (FBF) branding efforts influencing Millennial consumers' behavior? If so, what FBF branding attributes drive Millennial purchase decision-making? This chapter provides insights on FBF branding, with a global presence, and the attributes driving millennials to patronize these firms, and includes quantitative and qualitative analysis and discussion on a conceptual model.