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Understanding Social Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of Mission in an Ever Changing World
by Jill Kickul Thomas S. LyonsSocial entrepreneurship involves the application of business practices to the pursuit of social and/or environmental mission. It brings the mindset, principles, strategies, tools and techniques of entrepreneurship to the social sector, yielding innovative solutions to the vexing problems facing society – poverty, hunger, inadequate housing and homelessness, unemployment and under-employment, illiteracy, disease, environmental degradation, etc. It finds solutions where government and private sector efforts have not.
Understanding Sustainability Performance in Business Organizations: Implications for the Sustainability Service Industry (Routledge Research in Sustainability and Business)
by Jean-Pierre ImbrogianoThis book sheds new light on the role businesses can play in contributing to sustainability objectives, and how governance actors can better encourage their contributions. Jean-Pierre Imbrogiano introduces and empirically investigates the concept of sustainability performance in businesses, which reveals how achieving social and environmental objectives is experienced within business organizations. He focuses on supply chain management as a key part in this process and looks at how this has evolved to become a vital sector in the global business landscape. He further considers the current practices of governance actors which aim to enable sustainability performance in businesses. Labelled as a ‘sustainability service industry’, these actors include international, national, and industry sustainability initiatives, sustainability standard setters, business consultancies and rating agencies, as well as sustainable supply chain managers in corporations. Overall, this book calls for a conceptual reorientation in business sustainability scholarship, and points towards a challenging agenda for change in the sustainability service industry. Understanding Sustainability Performance in Business Organizations will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable business, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainable supply chain management, and sustainability governance.
Understanding Sustainable Public Procurement: Reflections from India and the World (Public Administration, Governance and Globalization #21)
by Sanjay KumarThis book explores the development of sustainable public procurement (SPP) as a strategic policy instrument to support decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation and enhancing social well-being. Offering an in-depth case study of India’s SPP implementation trajectory, it discusses the challenges of integrating sustainability criteria into purchasing decisions, and examines policy choices and best practices to address them. It investigates the legislative, institutional, and governance framework for SPP in India, and identifies priority actions to accelerate wider uptake of SPP policy and practices. Furthermore, the book highlights the evolving role of SPP policies in response to emerging global mega trends, such as international trade, low carbon economy, circular economy, and Industry 4.0. Given its scope, this book appeals to scholars of economics, public administration, and environmental and social sciences, as well as to policymakers, practitioners, and advocates interested in steering transformational changes towards mainstreaming sustainable procurement practices in developing economies at the desired scale."This book comes at the right time to compensate for the lack of in-depth works on the origins, nature and reality of the implementation of sustainable purchases.”- Farid Yaker, Programme Officer, Sustainable Public Procurement, Economy Division, UNEP, Paris, France. “…If you are a procurement or sustainability professional anywhere in the world, please read this book. It will change the way you think and feel about your profession.”- Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair, Supply Chain Sustainability School, London, UK & Director, Action Sustainability, London, UK
Understanding the Age of Transitional Justice: Crimes, Courts, Commissions, and Chronicling (Genocide, Political Violence, Human Rights)
by Nanci Adler Vladimir Petrovic William A. Schabas Jeremy Sarkin Stephan Parmentier Mina Rauschenbach Maarten Van Craen Richard Ashby Wilson Thijs B Bouwknegt Nicole L Immler Christian Axboe Nielsen Timothy Williams Kjell AndersonSince the 1980s, an array of legal and non-legal practices—labeled Transitional Justice—has been developed to support post-repressive, post-authoritarian, and post-conflict societies in dealing with their traumatic past. In Understanding the Age of Transitional Justice, the contributors analyze the processes, products, and efficacy of a number of transitional justice mechanisms and look at how genocide, mass political violence, and historical injustices are being institutionally addressed. They invite readers to speculate on what (else) the transcripts produced by these institutions tell us about the past and the present, calling attention to the influence of implicit history conveyed in the narratives that have gained an audience through international criminal tribunals, trials, and truth commissions. Nanci Adler has gathered leading specialists to scrutinize the responses to and effects of violent pasts that provide new perspectives for understanding and applying transitional justice mechanisms in an effort to stop the recycling of old repressions into new ones.
Understanding the Arizona Constitution
by Toni MccloryThis book is the definitive guide to Arizona government and serves as a solid introductory text for classes on the Arizona Constitution. Extensive end notes make it a useful reference for professionals within the government. Finally, it serves as a tool for any engaged citizen looking for information about online government resources, administrative rules, and voter rights.
Understanding the Company
by Barnali Choudhury Martin PetrinWhat is the purpose of the company and its role in society? From their origin in medieval times to their modern incarnation as powerful transnational bodies, companies remain an important part of business and society at large. Drawing from a variety of perspectives, this book adopts a normative approach to understanding the modern company and provides insights into how companies should be conceptualized. It considers key topics such as the development of corporate theory, the rights and obligations of the company, and the means and ends of corporate governance. Written by leading experts of different jurisdictions, this book provides important international viewpoints on some of the most pressing corporate governance questions.
Understanding the Corporate Annual Report: Nuts, Bolts and a Few Loose Screws
by Lyn M. Fraser Aileen OrmistonFor courses in Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis, Introduction to Business, or MBA finance courses. This book provides a clearly written, step-by-step guide to understanding corporate annual reports. <p><p>Authors Fraser and Ormiston instruct readers on how to ignore the PR letters from the corporate management team, engaging graphics, and other "garnishes" that typically accompany current annual reports in order to focus on what really counts—a company's performance and financial health! Throughout the text, the authors examine management's attempts to manipulate earnings and other performance measures, and they explain what the numbers in the report really mean.
Understanding the Creative Economy and the Future of Employment
by Charles Harvie Jorge Eduardo Fernandez-PolThe motivation of this book is simple, yet fundamental: No complete understanding of the modern economy is possible without a thorough grounding in the field of innovation as an economic activity.The book, as its title emphasizes, aims at helping readers to gain a comprehension of two inextricably linked issues: challenging innovation and the future of human work. To this end, the book integrates a triad of topics: innovation as an economic activity, modus operandi of an innovation-driven economy, and the persistent progression toward automation of human jobs.The main message conveyed by this book is that a creative economy will converge to an economy governed by smart machines aka robots, but will produce benefits if addressed in a rational manner.As to the salient features of this book, Accessibility: Accessible to readers with only cursory knowledge (if any) in economicsStyle: Adherence to a discursive, non-mathematical styleBrevity: Covers material in a succinct, easily understandable manner, drawing upon real world examplesAppendices: Each chapter is supplemented with appendices that elaborate upon pertinent real world examples and applicationsSelf-contained: All the key concepts are defined and exemplified within the bookApplicability: Uses examples that resonate with a wide audience of readers concerned about the advance of robotsNon-mathematical diagrams: Provides accessible and readily understandable figures/graphsProtective stance: Contains a rational response to the march of the robots which is useful for workers of all ages
Understanding the Creeping Crisis
by Arjen Boin Magnus Ekengren Mark RhinardThis open access book explores a special species of trouble afflicting modern societies: creeping crises. These crises evolve over time, reveal themselves in different ways, and resist comprehensive responses despite periodic public attention. As a result, these crises continue to creep in front of our eyes. This book begins by defining the concept of a creeping crisis, showing how existing literature fails to properly define and explore this phenomenon and outlining the challenges such crises pose to practitioners. Drawing on ongoing research, this book presents a diverse set of case studies on: antimicrobial resistance, climate change-induced migration, energy extraction, big data, Covid-19, migration, foreign fighters, and cyberattacks. Each chapter explores how creeping crises come into existence, why they can develop unimpeded, and the consequences they bring in terms of damage and legitimacy loss. The book provides a proof-of-concept to help launch the systematic study of creeping crises. Our analysis helps academics understand a new species of threat and practitioners recognize and prepare for creeping crises.
Understanding the Crisis in Greece
by Michael Mitsopoulos Theodore PelagidisAs the tensions in the Greek economy take centre stage in the international headlines, this book examines the failed policies and political corruption that have bankrupted the nation. The authors comment on recent bailouts and haircuts and explore the uncertain future of Greece in the Eurozone.
Understanding the Current International Order: [Building a Sustainable International Order series]
by Andrew Radin Cevallos Astrid Stuth Michael J. Mazarr Miranda PriebeIn the first report of a series on the emerging international order, RAND researchers examine the liberal order in effect since World War II, including the mechanisms by which the order affects state behavior, the engines that drive states to participate, and the U.S. approach to the order since 1945.
Understanding the Demand for Illegal Drugs
by National Research Council of the National AcademiesDespite efforts to reduce drug consumption in the United States over the past 35 years, drugs are just as cheap and available as they have ever been. Cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines continue to cause great harm in the country, particularly in minority communities in the major cities. Marijuana use remains a part of adolescent development for about half of the country's young people, although there is controversy about the extent of its harm.Given the persistence of drug demand in the face of lengthy and expensive efforts to control the markets, the National Institute of Justice asked the National Research Council to undertake a study of current research on the demand for drugs in order to help better focus national efforts to reduce that demand. This study complements the 2003 book, Informing America's Policy on Illegal Drugs by giving more attention to the sources of demand and assessing the potential of demand-side interventions to make a substantial difference to the nation's drug problems. Understanding the Demand for Illegal Drugs therefore focuses tightly on demand models in the field of economics and evaluates the data needs for advancing this relatively undeveloped area of investigation.
Understanding the Impacts of Deregulation in Planning: Turning Offices into Homes?
by Ben Clifford Jessica Ferm Nicola Livingstone Patricia CanelasIn England, it has been possible since 2013 to convert an office building into residential use without needing planning permission (as has been required since 1948). This book explores the consequences of this central government driven deregulation on local communities. The policy decision was primarily about boosting the supply of housing, but reflects a broader neoliberal ideology which seeks to reform public planning in many countries to reduce perceived interference in free markets. Drawing on original research in the English local authorities of Camden, Croydon, Leeds, Leicester and Reading, the book provides a case study of the implementation of planning deregulation which demonstrates the lowering of standards in housing quality, the reduced ability of the local state to proactively steer development and plan for their places, and the transfer of wealth from the public to private spheres that has resulted. Comparative case studies from Glasgow and Rotterdam call into question the very need for the deregulation in the first place.
Understanding the Law of Assignment
by C. H. ThamThe practical importance of intangible personalty such as debt, bonds, equities, futures, derivatives and other financial instruments has never been greater than it is today. The same may be said of interests in intellectual property. Yet the assignment of these intangible assets from one to another remains difficult to understand. Assignments are often taken to operate as a form of transfer akin to conveyances of legal titles to tangible personalty. However, this conception does not accurately reflect the law of assignment as it has developed in the caselaw in England and Wales. This book sets out a different model of the workings of assignments as a matter of English law, one that provides an analytical, yet historically sensitive, framework which allows us to better understand how, and why, assignments work in the way the cases tell us they do.
Understanding the Lean Enterprise
by Andrea Chiarini Pauline Found Nicholas RichThis publication is in collaboration with the University of Buckingham and is the result of a combined research and review process carried out by the three Editors who belongs to the University of Ferrara, Italy, the University of Buckingham, UK and Swansea University, UK. The book deepens the debate about the lean enterprise from both an academic and a professional management perspective. It thus provides the reader with a sound understanding of the modern lean enterprise and its current evolution. A range of innovative topics are covered, with individual chapters addressing the combinations of lean with hoshin kanri, green management, IT, organizational learning, flow accounting, system thinking, problem solving, internationalization aspects, luxury industry, and product innovation. Since the term "lean" first entered contemporary operations management language in 1990 to describe a set of practices proven to deliver superior performance over mass production systems, the lean approach to waste reduction and value generation has moved from vehicle production to other manufacturing sectors. It has reshaped the support functions of manufacturing businesses and has evolved from private industry into the public sector. Lean thinking is now a dominant model of operations management and has brought with it a new language and toolbox.
Understanding the Metaverse: A Business and Ethical Guide
by Nicola RosaAn expansive discussion of the mechanics, framework, and implications of the metaverse In Understanding the Metaverse: A Business and Ethical Guide, expert product and customer experience strategist Nick Rosa delivers a timely exploration of what is bound to be one of the most important technologies of our time. The author explains the technology that underpins the metaverse as it exists today and that will form the basis for its rapid evolution in the future. He also describes the commercial, ethical, and sociological implications of this technology, showing you the threats and opportunities that individuals and businesses are likely to encounter as they approach the metaverse for the first time. In the book, you'll discover: How the technology is shaping the human evolution and society How game mechanics and experience design are key to unlock the full potential of the Metaverse unlocking a new frontier for social interaction How Blockchain, digital currencies, and tokenomics are opening a new financial landscape for brands, creators and communities How Artificial intelligence and deep learning will shape the way businesses will conduct commerce in the Metaverse The ethical implications of designing highly emotionally impactful immersive experiences The potential dangers derived by the misuse of biometric and personal data to exploit consumer behaviour and for mass manipulation A thoroughly insightful discussion of a fascinating intersection of technology and humanity, Understanding the Metaverse belongs on the bookshelves of business leaders, technology enthusiasts, marketers, entrepreneurs, and anyone else with an interest in the next frontier of human achievement.
Understanding the Modern Russian Police
by Olga B. Semukhina Kenneth Michael ReynoldsUnderstanding the Modern Russian Police represents the culmination of ten years of research and an ongoing partnership between the Volgograd Academy of Russian Internal Affairs Ministry (VA MVD) and the Volgograd branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (VAPA). The book provides a timely and comprehen
Understanding the NEC4 ECC Contract: A Practical Handbook (Understanding Construction)
by Kelvin HughesAs usage of the NEC family of contracts continues to grow worldwide, so does the importance of understanding its clauses and nuances to everyone working in the built environment. This second edition of Understanding the NEC4 ECC Contract uses plain English to lead the reader through the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract’s key features. Chapters cover: Contractor’s main responsibilities The use of early warnings Contractor’s design Tendering Quality management Payment Liabilities and insurance Termination Avoiding and resolving disputes and much more.Common problems experienced when using the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) are signalled to the reader throughout, and the correct way of reading each clause explained. The way the contract effects procurement processes, dispute resolution, project management and risk management are all addressed in order to direct the user to best practice. This second edition takes into account the updates to the contract released in 2019, 2020 and 2023, and brings the book up to date with the most current practice.Written for construction professionals, by a practicing international construction contract consultant, this handbook is the most straightforward, balanced and practical guide to the NEC4 ECC available. An ideal companion for employers, contractors, project managers, supervisors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, subcontractors and anyone else interested in working successfully with the NEC4 ECC.
Understanding the NEC4 ECC Contract: A Practical Handbook (Understanding Construction)
by Kelvin HughesAs usage of the NEC family of contracts continues to grow worldwide, so does the importance of understanding its clauses and nuances to everyone working in the built environment. This second edition of Understanding the NEC4 ECC Contract uses plain English to lead the reader through the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract’s key features. Chapters cover: Contractor’s main responsibilities The use of early warnings Contractor’s design Quality management Payment Liabilities and insurance Termination Avoiding and resolving disputes Tendering Common problems experienced when using the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) are signalled to the reader throughout, and the correct way of reading each clause explained. The way the contract effects procurement processes, dispute resolution, project management and risk management are all addressed in order to direct the user to best practice. This second edition takes into account the updates to the contract released in 2019, 2020 and 2023, and brings the book up to date with the most current practice.Written for construction professionals, by a practising international construction contract consultant, this handbook is the most straightforward, balanced and practical guide to the NEC4 ECC available. An ideal companion for employers, contractors, project managers, supervisors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, subcontractors and anyone else interested in working successfully with the NEC4 ECC.
Understanding the NEC4 Professional Service Contract: A Practical Handbook (Understanding Construction)
by Kelvin HughesAs usage of the NEC (formerly the New Engineering Contract) family of contracts continues to grow worldwide, so does the importance of understanding its clauses and nuances to everyone working in the built environment. Currently in its fourth edition (NEC4), this set of contracts is different to others in concept as well as format, so users may well find themselves needing a helping hand along the way. Understanding the NEC4 Professional Service Contract uses plain English to lead the reader through the NEC4 Professional Service Contract’s key features and differences from its predecessor, the NEC3 Professional Services Contract, including: Main and Secondary Options the use of early warnings programme provisions payment compensation events preparing tender documents Common problems experienced when using the Professional Service Contract are signalled to the reader throughout, and the correct way of interpreting each clause explained. The way the contract affects procurement processes, dispute resolution, project management and risk management are all addressed in order to direct the user to best practice. Written for construction professionals, by a practising international construction contract consultant, this handbook is the most straightforward, balanced and practical guide to the NEC4 Professional Service Contract available. It is an ideal companion for Clients, Contractors, Service Managers, Project Managers, Supervisors, Engineers, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Subcontractors and anyone else interested in working successfully with the NEC4 Professional Service Contract.
Understanding the NEC4 Term Service Contract: A Practical Handbook (Understanding Construction)
by Kelvin Hughes Patrick WaterhouseUse of the NEC4 suite of contracts continues to grow and the new edition of Understanding the NEC4 Term Service Contract includes significant additional materials and changes since its original publication immediately after the initial release of the NEC4 contracts. Experienced authors and construction contracts specialists Kelvin Hughes and Patrick Waterhouse have added numerous practical experiences, case studies, lessons learned and guidance notes which were not available at the time of writing the original book.Covering all the recent updates to the contract and written in plain English, Understanding the NEC4 Term Service Contract offers a practical guide to the use and management of the NEC4 Term Service Contract (TSC). The authors describe the full life of a contract, from the initial selection of options and contract formation through to the operations period and ultimately termination and dispute resolution. Although born of the same stable as the NEC4 construction contracts, the TSC is aimed at maintaining infrastructure and differs significantly from its siblings.This is essential reading for anyone working with the contracts and takes the reader through the important provisions including communications, planning, early warnings, compensation events and payments. It is ideal for clients, contractors and their advisors describing how to deploy the contract successfully.
Understanding the Rohingya Displacement: Security, Media, and Humanitarian Perspectives (International Perspectives on Migration)
by Kawser Ahmed Md. Rafiqul IslamThis book provides a focused and comprehensive understanding of the conflict surrounding the Rohingya displacement, using a unique peace and conflict transformation viewpoint. Divided into four sections and nineteen chapters, it covers significant themes related to the conflict. It provides an in-depth examination of its security implications, media impact, and the need for a long-term transformation strategy. The authors offer a sharp perspective on the crisis, covering a wide range of topics, including human rights abuses, geopolitics, media influence, and repatriation of the Rohingya. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the conflict, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the Rohingya displacement-related conflict. The authors advocate for a peaceful end to the conflict through repatriation, offering valuable conflict transformation tools for decision-makers in Bangladesh and around the world. This book is essential for anyone seeking a deeper understandingof the conflict's security implications and highlights original research from academics on the role of the media. It is relevant for scholars, politicians, decision-makers in the security and refugee management fields, academics studying the media, and humanitarian actors.
Understanding the Social Dimension of Sustainability (Routledge Studies in Development and Society)
by Jesse Dillard Veronica Dujon Mary C. KingThe imperative of the twenty-first century is sustainability: to raise the living standards of the world's poor and to achieve and maintain high levels of social health among the affluent nations while simultaneously reducing and reversing the environmental damage wrought by human activity. Scholars and practitioners are making progress toward environmental and economic sustainability, but we have very little understanding of the social dimension of sustainability. This volume is an ambitious, multi-disciplinary effort to identify the key elements of social sustainability through an examination of what motivates its pursuit and the conditions that promote or detract from its achievement. Included are theoretical and empirical pieces; examination of international and local efforts; discussions highlighting experiences in both the developing and industrialized nations; and a substantial focus on business practices. Contributors are grounded in sociology, economics, business administration, public administration, public health, geography, education and natural resource management.
Understanding the Technology Behind Online Offending: A Guide for Professionals in the Criminal Justice System
by Christopher Wise Jennifer BamfordUnderstanding the Technology Behind Online Offending: A Guide for Professionals in the Criminal Justice System is a non-technical explanation of online offences by a cybersecurity expert, bridging the gap between the high-tech world of cybercrime and the non-technical professionals working within it.The book begins by equipping the reader with a foundational understanding of how the internet works before exploring the various ways that people can exploit the Internet to commit crimes. The reader is then introduced to some of the sophisticated ways that individuals may evade detection before we explore the organisations fighting to prevent and capture those offending online. The book includes a contributory chapter from solicitors at Stone King LLP to help the reader understand how the law is evolving to prosecute offenders. There is a further contributory chapter from psychologist Dr Ruth J Tully who discusses psychological risk assessment with those who offend online. The book concludes with important chapters looking at how professionals can keep themselves safe online, and future directions of the internet.The book's intended audience includes all professionals who work with those who commit online offences, such as psychologists, solicitors, social workers, probation officers and police officers. The book is also suitable for those in training or graduate education.
Understanding the U.S. Illicit Tobacco Market: Characteristics, Policy Context, and Lessons from International Experiences
by Peter ReuterTobacco use has declined because of measures such as high taxes on tobacco products and bans on advertising, but worldwide there are still more than one billion people who regularly use tobacco, including many who purchase products illicitly. By contrast to many other commodities, taxes comprise a substantial portion of the retail price of cigarettes in the United States and most other nations. Large tax differentials between jurisdictions increase incentives for participation in existing illicit tobacco markets. In the United States, the illicit tobacco market consists mostly of bootlegging from low-tax states to high-tax states and is less affected by large-scale smuggling or illegal production as in other countries. In the future, nonprice regulation of cigarettes - such as product design, formulation, and packaging - could in principle, contribute to the development of new types of illicit tobacco markets. "Understanding the U. S. Illicit Tobacco Market" reviews the nature of illicit tobacco markets, evidence for policy effects, and variations among different countries with a focus on implications for the United States. This report estimates the portion of the total U. S. tobacco market represented by illicit sales has grown in recent years and is now between 8. 5 percent and 21 percent. This represents between 1. 24 to 2. 91 billion packs of cigarettes annually and between $2. 95 billion and $6. 92 billion in lost gross state and local tax revenues. "Understanding the U. S. Illicit Tobacco Market" describes the complex system associated with illicit tobacco use by exploring some of the key features of that market - the cigarette supply chain, illicit procurement schemes, the major actors in the illicit trade, and the characteristics of users of illicit tobacco. This report draws on domestic and international experiences with the illicit tobacco trade to identify a range of possible policy and enforcement interventions by the U. S. federal government and/or states and localities.