Recounting Knowledge: The Rhetoric of Technological Generations.A new use of the term "generations" has appeared in the technological field to qualify the different versions of a product, represent the successive stages of an innovation process, or distinguish fact from fiction in a controversial context. In this article the author uses the case of the emergence of biofuels to test this literary technology and highlight its performative dimension. By comparing the actors' discourses with a quali-quantitative analysis of the evolution of research projects in the biofuel field, he identifies the dynamics that these "generational" accounts describe, and those that they leave in the dark. Three types of use are distinguished: the first, biological, sets disparate studies in a progressive and naturalist genealogy; the second, sociological, dissociates and isolates so-called virtuous branches from others, which are disregarded; and the third, rhetorical, under cover of an educational purpose, conveys a political strategy for innovation. ; Un nouvel usage du terme de « générations » est apparu dans le domaine technologique, pour qualifier différentes versions d'un produit, représenter les étapes successives d'un processus d'innovation, ou encore séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie dans un contexte controversé. À travers le cas de l'émergence des biocarburants, nous mettons à l'épreuve cette technologie littéraire et dévoilons sa dimension performative. En confrontant les discours d'acteurs à une analyse quali-quantitative de l'évolution des projets de recherche dans le domaine des bioénergies, nous identifions les dynamiques que ces comptes-rendus « générationnels » décrivent, et celles qu'ils laissent dans l'ombre. Trois usages s'en distinguent : le premier, biologique, inscrit des recherches disparates dans une généalogie progressiste et naturaliste ; le deuxième, sociologique, isole sur le principe de la rupture des filières prétendument vertueuses, d'autres, sacrifiées ; le dernier, rhétorique, véhicule sous couvert ...
Recounting Knowledge: The Rhetoric of Technological Generations.A new use of the term "generations" has appeared in the technological field to qualify the different versions of a product, represent the successive stages of an innovation process, or distinguish fact from fiction in a controversial context. In this article the author uses the case of the emergence of biofuels to test this literary technology and highlight its performative dimension. By comparing the actors' discourses with a quali-quantitative analysis of the evolution of research projects in the biofuel field, he identifies the dynamics that these "generational" accounts describe, and those that they leave in the dark. Three types of use are distinguished: the first, biological, sets disparate studies in a progressive and naturalist genealogy; the second, sociological, dissociates and isolates so-called virtuous branches from others, which are disregarded; and the third, rhetorical, under cover of an educational purpose, conveys a political strategy for innovation. ; Un nouvel usage du terme de « générations » est apparu dans le domaine technologique, pour qualifier différentes versions d'un produit, représenter les étapes successives d'un processus d'innovation, ou encore séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie dans un contexte controversé. À travers le cas de l'émergence des biocarburants, nous mettons à l'épreuve cette technologie littéraire et dévoilons sa dimension performative. En confrontant les discours d'acteurs à une analyse quali-quantitative de l'évolution des projets de recherche dans le domaine des bioénergies, nous identifions les dynamiques que ces comptes-rendus « générationnels » décrivent, et celles qu'ils laissent dans l'ombre. Trois usages s'en distinguent : le premier, biologique, inscrit des recherches disparates dans une généalogie progressiste et naturaliste ; le deuxième, sociologique, isole sur le principe de la rupture des filières prétendument vertueuses, d'autres, sacrifiées ; le dernier, rhétorique, véhicule sous couvert ...
Why is unprecedented financialization failing to provoke a strong political backlash? The role of financial markets, motives, actors, and institutions has expanded continuously in recent decades, but - contrary to Polanyi's 'double movement' theory and despite the current financial crisis - market-containment efforts have grown weaker over time. The present paper approaches this puzzle by explaining how the practice of corporate takeover bids gradually gained political acceptance in the United Kingdom from the 1950s onward. Through its expansion, the market for corporate control contributed directly to eroding political resistance by triggering processes of routinization, adaptation, and elimination. Routinization decreases issue salience for 'average voters' because it lowers the news value of takeover bids. Adaptation to new profit opportunities increases the number of beneficiaries from takeover bids, thereby bolstering promarket clienteles. Elimination of stakeholder-oriented companies - through constant exposure to takeover threats - demoralizes the opponents of active markets for corporate control by leaving them with less to fight for. Empirical evidence is drawn mainly from qualitative and quantitative analysis of British parliamentary debates regarding takeover bids between 1953 and 2011. ; Warum provoziert die historisch beispiellose Finanzialisierung keine starke politische Gegenreaktion? Während der Einfluss der Finanzwelt auf Märkte, Motive, Akteure und Institutionen im vergangenen Jahrzehnt kontinuierlich gewachsen ist, sind Bestrebungen zur Markteindämmung schwächer geworden - entgegen Polanyis Theorie der Doppelbewegung und trotz der gegenwärtigen Finanzkrise. Der vorliegende Aufsatz nähert sich diesem Rätsel, indem dargelegt wird, wie die Praxis von Übernahmeangeboten in Großbritannien seit den 1950er-Jahren allmählich an politischer Akzeptanz gewonnen hat. Durch seine Ausdehnung hat der Markt für Unternehmenskontrolle direkt zur Erosion politischen Widerstands beigetragen, indem er Prozesse der Routinisierung, Anpassung und Eliminierung ausgelöst hat. Routinisierung verringert die Bedeutung des Themas für den 'Durchschnittswähler', da sie den Nachrichtenwert von Übernahmeangeboten senkt. Anpassung an neue Profitmöglichkeiten erhöht die Zahl der Nutznießer von Übernahmeangeboten und stärkt so marktfreundliche Parteien. Eliminierung von stakeholderorientierten Unternehmen durch konstante Übernahmedrohungen demoralisiert die Gegner aktiver Märkte für Unternehmenskontrolle, da sich Widerstand weniger lohnt. Als empirische Belege werden quantitative und qualitative Analysen britischer Parlamentsdebatten zwischen 1953 und 2011 herangezogen.
The Emergency medical system in French Guyana receives the emergency calls from remote gold mining sites. Collecting accurate information is the key for choosing the appropriate response, from simple counseling to expensive vectors mobilization. Starting from the quantitative analysis of emergency calls over 6 years, this study makes proposals for improving the management of these emergencies; the recommended measures need to be assessed with gold miners, healthcare providers and authorities. The recommendations are the implementation of a telemedicine network, with first responders trained in basic emergency care, with access to decision-making tools, and an on-site pharmacy they can use following precise procedures. Awareness programs about infectious diseases need also to be implemented for gold miners, as it represents the main cause of emergency calls. Finally, it is essential to clearly address this issue as being part of an efficient health organization at a cross-border level. ; Les appels d'urgence des sites d'orpaillage de Guyane sont régulés par le SAMU. La prise de décision nécessite des informations précises et exploitables, qui peuvent impliquer d'engager des moyens héliportés coûteux. A partir d'une analyse quantitative de ces appels sur 6 ans, ce travail propose d'améliorer la prise en charge globale de ces urgences, grâce à des mesures évaluées auprès des orpailleurs, des acteurs de santé et des autorités sanitaires. Les recommandations visent principalement à créer un réseau de télémédecine dont les correspondants sur site sont formés aux gestes et soins d'urgence, équipés d'outils d'aide à la décision, et dotés d'une pharmacie utilisable selon des règles précises. Les orpailleurs doivent aussi être sensibilisés à la prévention des problèmes infectieux, principal motif d'appel. Enfin, il est déterminant que cette problématique soit explicitement intégrée dans le projet régional de santé ainsi que dans une politique sanitaire transfrontalière.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SMALL-SCALE FARMERS' STRATEGIES IN DEALING WITH CRISES: AN ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD RESPONSES TO CRISIS IN FOUR VILLAGES IN RURAL ZIMBABWE Crises caused by natural and human-induced disasters have always been part of farmers' lives, but recently they have proliferated through the emergence of new economic, political and environmental challenges. Generally, it is the ordinary poor people, many of them living in the vulnerable contexts of the rural tropics, who are bearing the brunt of these changes. This is particularly true for many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of the population still depend on agriculture, and a large proportion of rural households suffer from poverty, food insecurity and social unrest. In such contexts, national governments and numerous NGOs, often supported by international donors, become active in supporting small farmers with training programs, the diffusion of technology, credits, social payments, subsidies and infrastructural investments. These efforts have had a remarkable success, except in stopping a general process of local marginalization and environmental degradation. In the end, the vast majority of small-scale farming families are left on their own to face the challenge of sustaining their livelihoods and guarantee food for their families under precarious conditions. More effective measures to support poor rural farmers in Africa are urgently needed that take better account of and stimulate their adaptive capacity to find responses to the manifold challenges. The research in this thesis aimed to generate empirical insights into farmers' responses to crises as a basis to supporting small-scale farmers more effectively, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, in times of crisis. This includes three specific objectives: (1) to describe how crises changes the conditions for small-scale farmers' activities; (2) to learn how small-scale farmers are responding to these changes; and (3) to find out what factors are driving farmers' 'decisions. To comply with these objectives, the study analyzed in depth the dynamics in four rural villages in Zimbabwe, which represent three typical agricultural contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa: (1) communal agricultural lands with traditional social configurations; (2) agricultural landscapes formed by individualized settlers; and (3) areas resettled in the course of land redistribution programs. Zimbabwe was chosen because it is a prime example of a crisis that brought about severe multi-layered political, economic, social and environmental challenges, especially during the presidency of Robert G. Mugabe between 2000 and 2017. Data were gathered, processed and analyzed using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. Household surveys were conducted with lead farmers and extension agents to gain an understanding of the factors and conditions that influence farmers' behavior and choices and to establish categories of farmers. Households were surveyed to determine their characteristics at the personal level (family size, head, level of education, financial situation, and farm experience), the farm level (assets, size, land tenure, remoteness) and the institutional level (extension services, financial support, social organization). Besides, farmers' households that represented the strategies typically used to cope with the situation of crisis were selected for in-depth interviews to learn about the operational details, underlying rationalities and effects of the strategies they had adopted. Expert interviews and participatory mapping exercises with local experts and leaders were conducted to gain an understanding of how the Zimbabwean crisis changed the conditions under which the farmers live and to grasp the range and spatial relevance of strategies adopted by the farmer in response to the changed conditions. Also, secondary sources were systematically explored for relevant information, including reports from international organizations, non-governmental agencies, local NGOs, public research organizations, farmers' groups, dairy associations, Internal Savings and Lending Clubs (ISACs) and government agencies. The study made three principal findings: (1) crises strongly affected farming households; (2) most farmers managed to respond effectively to crisis situations; and (3) support and resource endowments are critical to overcoming crises. The crises strongly affected farmers. More than fifteen years of political and economic crises in Zimbabwe, in combination with frequent droughts, profoundly changed the conditions under which rural farmers live and produce. Most strikingly, the manifestation of this complex situation of crises was the breakdown of public services, including progressive reductions of public services providing farmers with technical and financial assistance and, partly related to this, increases in corruption. For example, although the ruling party announced million-dollar tractor and farm mechanization programs during elections, not one of the farmers from the four case studies received anything. Most critical was also the fact that the state-driven Grain Marketing Board failed to continue offering support to maize farmers with regard to pricing and payment patterns, which led to a massive decline in the production of maize, the key business of many farmers at that time. This withdrawal of the state was further compounded by a massive distortion of markets, which for the farmers made the profitable marketing of their own production considerably more difficult or even impossible, as well as making agricultural input prices unaffordable. The latter development forced a majority of farmers to skip using fertilizers, certified seeds and pesticides. Some few only managed to apply sub-optimal amounts of fertilizers occasionally on smaller parts of their fields. Devastatingly, farmers also suffered animal losses to drought (especially the extreme drought of the 2015/2016 season) and animal diseases that hampered their practice of using manure to maintain soil fertility. In parallel, farmers were heavily affected by climate change, manifested through an increase in dryness, soil erosion and unpredictable rainfall. This was especially hard for farmers acting in the dry conditions that are typical of large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where water is the limiting factor of production and where agricultural activities depend on the predictability of rainfall during the sowing period and the availability of groundwater or water reservoirs in the mountains during the growing period. This critical situation was, at least partly, mitigated for more than a third of farmers (38%) through the intervention of donors, NGOs and private companies, who, in contrast to the government's initial strategy of diffusing technical packages, promoted low-cost technologies in the case of development organizations and contract farming in the case of private companies. Nevertheless, the situation of crisis resulted in considerable losses of harvests, plants and animals, particularly in very dry years (2002-2003, and 2015-2016), when some crops were a complete write-off, but also due to political violence, when livestock and harvests were looted, for example, in the aftermath of the 2008 election. Despite these difficulties, the vast majority of families remained on their properties and tried to cope with the challenging situation. In the resettlement area too, where the government distributed the land of expropriated white farmers, all those farmers who had settled there at the beginning of 2000 remained on their farms and in 2015were joined by new farmers settling on grazing land. Roughly a third of households (29%), however, decided to send a member or two to urban centers, abroad or other farms to search for remunerative employment off the family farm. As it was mostly young male adults who were drawn into leaving the farm for jobs, across all case studies it was common for women, children and the elderly to be left with the task of managing farm operations. Effective responses of the farmers. In response to the situation of crisis, the farmers in the case studies employed a wide range of strategies. Responses included orientation towards livestock, the reduction of the land area under cultivation, the adoption of low-input farming systems, intensification, and on and off-farm diversification, as well as migration, a re-orientation to subsistence farming and the unsustainable exploitation of common resources. Most farmers combined two or more of these responses. Where possible nearly all households (84%) started to buy livestock when a crisis broke, whether cattle or small livestock, the latter being seen as resistant to drought and more easily convertible into cash. To improve food security, many farmers (71%) reduced and concentrated inputs on the most suitable parcels of land to optimize the application of scarce resources. Upon realizing surpluses, some farmers (15%) then included tobacco as a cash crop, or even diversified their production portfolios more strongly (20%). Only traditional dairy farmers (10 %) mostly continued their production because, often belonging to the second or third generation of farmers, they had the knowledge and experience to continue and even intensify production. Also, migration and, relatedly, the transfer of remittances became a central resource for many families (29%). Accordingly, concentration and diversification were closely linked with an orientation to the market. The farmers who produced for markets were well connected with relevant platforms and networks (e.g., tobacco auction floors, milk collection points, the Grain Marketing Board, millers, etc.) and used their surpluses to invest in the farm and grow their asset base. Those farmers who received remittances also invested in farming, often accompanied by a diversification of production. The switch to low-cost technologies and the concentration of production on the most suitable parcels of land massively reduced the dependence on government subsidies. In parallel, many farmers managed to significantly enhance their areal productivity, so that overall production remained stable, despite a significant reduction in the land area under cultivation. Some farmers even managed to increase their gross incomes by intelligently combining on-farm with non-farm strategies. The concentration of farming activities on the most fertile land parcels also allowed fields to be left fallow and promoted other ecologically valuable land-use resources, such as woodlots. This effect was particularly visible in contexts that already showed a high level of degradation. Only 7% of farmers became engaged in unsustainable exploitative activities, but, every tenth household was forced to re-orient itself towards subsistence farming. However, about 75% of households in the case-study sites had somehow found effective ways to cope with crises, implying that the vast majority of farmers substantially changed or strongly adapted their livelihood strategies. While in 2000 most farmers were dedicated to the production of maize and dairy for income generating purposes, in 2016 livelihood strategies were diversified and included the production of food, dairy and cash crops, as well as off-farm employment. Support and resource endowments are critical. The specific choice and quality of farmers' responses varied strongly in accordance with institutional, farm and personal features, except the consistent orientation towards livestock across all farmers and case studies. In particular, a set of four factors had a highly significant positive influence on the successful actions of farmers, based on concentration, market orientation and diversification, namely the availability of farm assets (particularly ownership of cattle), financial support, the level of social organization and formal tenure arrangements. Market orientation was also favored by accessibility. Other factors had a comparatively low influence on farmers' responses, except a preference for diversification by older and female-headed households. Concerning remittance support, higher educational levels and the good financial situation of the households played a moderately positive role. The picture was less clear concerning factors that influenced responses with questionable livelihood outcomes, such as re-orientation towards subsistence farming (lack of assets, low level of education, households headed by females without husbands) and exploitative strategies (male-headed households and households headed by females without husbands). There were also large differences between the case studies in respect of the factors listed above, partly due to important contextual differences. Most strikingly, the better the situation of a case study with regard to accessibility, water availability and social organization, the stronger the external support. In response, more farmers in the favored case studies exploited the opportunities offered to them mainly by tobacco companies and development organizations (irrigation and dairy farming). One exception was the resettlement case study, which, as a contested area, was disregarded by development organizations, despite favorable environmental conditions. Accordingly, in the least favorable case study, "community in impoverished landscape", households were largely left to face their difficult situations alone. They were more likely to re-orient themselves to subsidence farming and switched to small livestock, thereby managing at least to secure their food basis. In particular, these results provide three important suggestions for how farmers can be better supported in crises. First, effective water management is key. There is an urgent need to diffuse in- field water-harvesting techniques and to further optimize appropriate agricultural practices, such as mulching and gravity-fed irrigation. Second, farmers are creative in finding solutions. This includes farming responses, as well as off-farm strategies. Both are effective from a local perspective. However, only the better-off farmers may have the means and capacities for the necessary investments, whereas the challenges may exceed the possibilities of poorer farmers. The proper management of livestock and the use of manure in agricultural production is another important requisite. Third, support measures are critical. However, rather than distributing of costly technology packages, support should take advantage of and promote capacity of farmers to take meaningful decisions. Thus, support should build on the resources and capacities that are available locally and accordingly highlight low-cost strategies and efficient water-use management, stimulate financially attractive options for diversification, and develop existing market opportunities further rather than creating new ones. In this regard, in particular, the frequently observed strategy of farmers to reduce and concentrate inputs on the most suitable land shows an immense potential for optimization. Supporting such promising attempts by farmers to build robust farming systems following their capacities and interests can help achieve development, social equality and sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. To operationalize such an approach requires well-trained extension agents working in well-equipped organizations. Also, the provision of tenure security plays a critical role in motivating farmers to invest and develop the land, as well as to turn land into a bankable asset and collateral that enables farmers to secure bank loans for farm improvements. Equally important is investment in research and development regarding basic infrastructure, particularly the maintenance of public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, which have largely been neglected due to economic hardships. The government can also assist farmers by providing market facilities for small livestock and small grains whose markets are still limited. The private sector has and continues to play an important role in supporting farmers through contract farming arrangements. But they need to consider more intensively weaker farmers who are located far from markets and have to cope with unfavorable situations. Farmers' associations should prioritize programs and actions that support the frequent and most common response of concentration, as well as market participation and diversification of production. Through the local sharing of information and knowledge, they can guide farmers in reducing their dependence on government subsidies and the use of costly inputs such as fertilizers, certified seeds and pesticides. The farmers themselves need to organize themselves better in order to lobby collectively and campaign for technical assistance, credits and secure tenure arrangements. Farmers should intensify crop–livestock integration with livestock, thus equipping farmers with the means to produce much needed inexpensive animal manure to improve soil fertility and to opt for long-term strategies that protect their resource base. Finally, research also has its part to play. More knowledge is needed about farmers' actions and rationalities as a basis for finding more effective ways of consolidating the socio- ecological diversity of Zimbabwe, Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, despite the political, economic and climatic challenges that are to be expected in the future.
This research is aimed to; 1) describe the marketing system of cabbage, including marketing channels and marketing functions which is done by eachmarketing agencies;2) analyze the structure, conduct, and performance (SCP), marketing margin, farmer's share, and marketing efficiency analysis of cabbage's marketing in Kayu Aro district. The data collection method used in this research was survey. Primary and secondary data were collected and then analyzed using descriptive qualitative method and quantitative method. The findings of this research indicate that; 1) marketing agencies involved in the cabbage marketing structure are farmers, collectors sellers, large sellers, distributor sellers, and retailer sellers. 2) There are four channels of cabbage marketing, and it consists of three channels inside the region and one channel outside the region. 3) Market functions that had been conducted within each marketing channel are exchange function, physic function, and facility function. 4) The market structure analysis of cabbage leads to an oligopoly market. Marketing price is shaped based on a compromise between demand and supply. Furthermore, this study highlighted that marketing channel IV is the most efficient channel for marketing efficiency analysis. Through this study, the writer would like to advise the producers to follow the cabbage marketing structure that had already been formulated, which is marketing channel IV. The local government could create a policy to make marketing efficiency better, for example, by supplying facilities and infrastructure. As for future researchers, there is pressing urgency for further research about marketing efficiency through a market integration approach. ; Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mendeskripsikan sistem pemasaran kubis di Kecamatan Kayu Aro, meliputi saluran dan fungsi pemasaran yang dilakukan oleh masing – masing lembaga pemasaran, serta menganalisis struktur, perilaku, dan kinerjapemasaran (Structure, Conduct and Performance/SCP), marjin pemasaran, farmer's share, dan efisiensi pemasaran kubis di Kecamatan Kayu Aro. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode survey dan data yang dikumpulkan terdiri dari data primer dan sekunder yang dianalisis secara deskriptif kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa; Lembaga pemasaran yang terlibat dalam pemasaran kubis diantaranya petani, pedagang pengumpul, pedagang besar, pedagang grosir, dan pedagang pengecer. Saluran pemasaran kubis ada empat saluran, yaitu tiga saluran dalam daerah dan satu saluran luar daerah. Saluran pemasaran melakukan fungsi pemasaran diantaranya fungsi pertukaran, fungsi fisik, dan fungsi fasilitas. Analisis struktur pasar kubis mengarah pada pasar oligopoli. Harga pasar ditentukan dari bertemunya permintaan dan penawaran. Saluran pasar yang paling efisien dalam analisis efisiensi pemasaran adalah saluran IV. Saran untuk produsen, diharapkan dapat mengikuti pemasaran kubis seperti yang telah dirumuskan yaitu saluran pemasaran I dan IV.Sedangkan untuk pemerintahdapat merumuskan kebijakan untuk meningkatkan efisiensi pemasaran kubis seperti pengadaan sarana dan prasarana penunjang dan untuk peneliti selanjutnya diharapkan meneliti efisiensi pemasaran menggunakan integrasi pasar.
The quality of social science inquiry examining terrorism, insurgency, and nonviolent civil resistance has progressed rapidly in recent years. One reason for this advancement is the emergence of new datasets and the subsequent application of quantitative methods to the analysis of asymmetric political conflict between states and nonstate actors. Despite rapid development within the research paradigm, the use of new data has coincided with several methodological and conceptual challenges. This inquiry employs insights from qualitative social science methodology and organizational sociology to highlight and propose solutions to three shortcomings found in recent quantitative analyses of asymmetric conflict. The first problem arises from scholars' proclivity to ask research questions based on easily accessible categories of data rather than on theoretically significant puzzles in the literature. The second pitfall concerns limitations and "conceptual stretching" associated with static, nominal variables constructed to enable statistical inference. Finally, the third class of research obstacles arises from selection bias caused by underreporting of data. Each of these methodological problems potentially undermines theoretical claims made in recent work on insurgent organizations, terrorism, civil war, and nonviolent resistance.
Dos de los deportistas españoles más importantes, Alberto Contador (ciclista) y Marta Domínguez (atleta), estuvieron involucrados entre 2010 y 2012 en dos casos relacionados con el dopaje. Este texto analizará, de forma cualitativa y cuantitativa, el tratamiento que han recibido ambos casos por dos periódicos españoles (El Mundo y El País) y cómo estos deportistas han sido retratados por estos medios de comunicación de manera diferente en relación a cuestiones tales como la implicación económica, la política, la presunción de inocencia, su vida privada y el nacionalismo deportivo como consecuencia de la repercusión pública que ambos casos han tenido y la imagen internacional que se ha proyectado del deporte español. ; Alberto Contador (cyclist) and Marta Domínguez (athlete), two of the most relevant Spanish sportsmen, were involved since 2010 to 2012 in two cases related to doping. This text will analyze, using quantitative and qualitative techniques, the treatment that both cases have received by two Spanish newspapers (i.e., El Mundo and El País) and how these sportsmen have been different portrayed according to issues such as economics, politics, presumption of innocence, privacy and sport nationalism as consequence of the public impact that both cases have had in the international image portrayed by the Spanish sport.
Advertising is one of the commonly visible elements of the urban landscape (real and virtual). It also does not require proof that advertisements of cities as such are also part of their "cityscape." Since at least the nineteenth century, cities have advertised themselves as attractive places to live, visit, or do business. Therefore, the following research question can be asked: How do Polish cities present themselves in advertisements one can find in the landscape? The study assumes that each advertisement should clearly identify the sender and indicate its specific characteristics, distinguishing itself from its competitors. Polish cities began to use logos and slogans as a mechanism of description and distinction after 1990, when socioeconomic changes started. There are quite a few studies on this activity, but most of them are single case studies. Therefore, the authors decided to examine a relatively large sample of Polish cities, which allows for statistical analysis. Analysis of the logo and slogan content allows the authors to examine the desired image or the projected identity of Polish cities. The methods were chosen because they admit qualitative and quantitative analysis, especially when there is a sufficiently large sample. Therefore, the survey covered all towns and cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants in Poland. There are 218 such towns in total. The analysis was carried out in the first half of 2021. In conclusion, the authors find that the advertising of Polish cities is embedded in the past, promotes resources (substance), sometimes geographical location, but rarely refers to famous characters and human potential. And such a picture of these cities one may find on outdoor advertisements, which sometimes produce dissonance when accompanying modern buildings or new transport solutions in the city.
INTRODUCTION: Determinants and drivers for emergencies, such as political instability, weak health systems, climate change and forcibly displaced populations, are increasing the severity, complexity and frequency of public health emergencies. As emergencies become more complex, it is increasingly important that the required skillset of the emergency response workforce is clearly defined. To enable essential epidemiological activities to be implemented and managed during an emergency, a workforce is required with the right mix of skills, knowledge, experience and local context awareness. This study aims to provide local and international responders with an opportunity to actively contribute to the development of new thinking around emergency response roles and required competencies. In this study, we will develop recommendations using a broad range of evidence to address identified lessons and challenges so that future major emergency responses are culturally and contextually appropriate, and less reliant on long-term international deployments. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a mixed-methods study using an exploratory sequential study design. The integration of four data sources, including key informant interviews, a scoping literature review, survey and semistructured interviews will allow the research questions to be examined in a flexible, semistructured way, from a range of perspectives. The study is unequally weighted, with a qualitative emphasis. We will analyse all activities as individual components, and then together in an integrated analysis. Thematic analysis will be conducted in NVivo V.11 and quantitative analysis will be conducted in Stata V.15. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All activities have been approved by the Science and Medical Delegated Ethics Review Committee at the Australian National University (protocol numbers 2018–521, 2018–641, 2019–068). Findings will be disseminated through international and local deployment partners, peer-reviewed publication, presentation at international ...
On‐site outsourcing can be an effective strategy for organizations but operational performance may be temporarily hindered and recovery from this can take many months.This study explores an instance of outsourcing in an aerospace maintenance and repair operation (MRO) in South Wales, where the inbound materials handling and warehousing (IMHW) function has been wholly outsourced to a third‐party organization. In this respect the study is novel and sheds new light on the operational performance benefits of outsourcing.The host organization, located in South Wales, employs over 1000 staff and its annual turnover is in excess of £1 billion. The outsourcing organization is a provider of workforce solutions to organizations in aviation, defense, government, and technology sectors. After outsourcing the IMHW function, the host organization's staff were retained and re‐employed in other areas of the facility.Specifically, this study provides a quantitative analysis of the IMHW function, comparing the throughput and accuracy of the function before and after outsourcing. The analysis is made based on data extracted from the host organization's management information system (MIS), spanning the 13 months prior to, and 16 months post, the function being outsourced.Using trend analysis, correlation, and linear regression analysis it finds that on‐site outsourcing can deliver comparable operational performance, in terms of IMHW functional throughput and accuracy, to the host organization, and therefore be an effective strategy for organizations wishing to focus upon core competencies.It also highlights that operational performance can be severely hindered following functional outsourcing and that recovery from this can take many months. It postulates that preparation for functional handover, especially in the form of training and tacit knowledge exchange between host and outsourcing employees, requires careful planning to minimize disruptions and maximize operational benefits.The literature section begins by exploring the ...
This article uses computer simulations as a means of assessing two different models for the competition between two languages from the interdisciplinary perspective of complex systems. These models allow for the analysis of the role of bilingual speakers and they consider two of the basic factors determining the use of each language: their relative prestige and the language loyalty of their speakers. Here we assess the effect of these parameters in different social networks, with the aim of contributing to the understanding of the role of bilingualism and social networks in processes of language contact. We first present a qualitative analysis based on a simulation tool that we have designed, in order to visualize the dynamics of the models. Secondly, we consider a qualitative analysis of the role of complex networks, identifying mechanisms for the rapid extinction of a language and for situations of language segregation. Finally, we present a quantitative analysis which shows, counter-intuitively, a transition from a final scenario of language maintenance to one of language shift as language loyalty increases. Other findings are: (i) that the scenario of language coexistence is reduced in the presence of bilingual agents; and (ii) that networks which allow for local effects reduce further the situations for which language maintenance is possible. ; In addition, for generous financial support, Xavier Castelló and Maxi San Miguel thank the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund (grant FIS2007-60327, FISICOS), and Lucía Loureiro-Porto thanks the Autonomous Government of Galicia (INCITE grant 08PXIB204016PR) and the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund (grants HUM2007–60706 and FFI2011-26693-C02-02). ; Peer reviewed
This study examines the economic, geographical, and social mobility in the early modern Adriatic using the example of the urban elites of Zadar (Zara) between the two naval battles of Preveza (1538) and Lepanto (1571). Based upon the protocols of fifteen public notaries, preserved in the Croatian State Archive in Zadar, the present thesis combines both unpublished primary and published secondary sources – the Venetian relazioni as well as the city's statutory laws, codified in 1563/64 – to provide for a vivid images of past times. Methodically, the present study applies a three-pronged approach: an introductory chapter is followed by the first major part. By means of analysis of more than 900 individual procura contracts, the geographical range of Zadar's urban elites are surveyed. So far this source type has attracted little scholarly attention despite its advantages of both qualitative and quantitative analysis potential to reconstruct pre?modern communication. The subsequent part surveys the interactions among Zadar's various urban elites along ecclesiastical, economic, and political lines; the intricate relationship of clergy and nobility is of particular interest in this context. While the first segment of this part focuses on the analysis of the interrelationships of the elite groups, the second segment is a case study examining the real estate market. Thorough analysis of more than 1,700 individual contracts sheds new light on the developments of the economic foundations of an early modern frontier society. Zadar's various urban elites' nobility, elite commoners, Croats, and Jews' and their marriage behaviour, material culture and, more general, interactions are the main topics of the final part. Based upon marriage contracts, dowry quitclaims, and testaments, colourful images of life in Venice's maritime state in the 16th century emerges.
This study examines the economic, geographical, and social mobility in the early modern Adriatic using the example of the urban elites of Zadar (Zara) between the two naval battles of Preveza (1538) and Lepanto (1571). Based upon the protocols of fifteen public notaries, preserved in the Croatian State Archive in Zadar, the present thesis combines both unpublished primary and published secondary sources – the Venetian relazioni as well as the city's statutory laws, codified in 1563/64 – to provide for a vivid images of past times. Methodically, the present study applies a three-pronged approach: an introductory chapter is followed by the first major part. By means of analysis of more than 900 individual procura contracts, the geographical range of Zadar's urban elites are surveyed. So far this source type has attracted little scholarly attention despite its advantages of both qualitative and quantitative analysis potential to reconstruct pre?modern communication. The subsequent part surveys the interactions among Zadar's various urban elites along ecclesiastical, economic, and political lines; the intricate relationship of clergy and nobility is of particular interest in this context. While the first segment of this part focuses on the analysis of the interrelationships of the elite groups, the second segment is a case study examining the real estate market. Thorough analysis of more than 1,700 individual contracts sheds new light on the developments of the economic foundations of an early modern frontier society. Zadar's various urban elites' nobility, elite commoners, Croats, and Jews' and their marriage behaviour, material culture and, more general, interactions are the main topics of the final part. Based upon marriage contracts, dowry quitclaims, and testaments, colourful images of life in Venice's maritime state in the 16th century emerges.
