The Chinese position as a global player in international comparison with the WTO members: Efficiency analysis and 4IR

During the last quarter-century, globalisation processes affected changes in the world economy in the form of intensifying competition in the international and internal markets. The result is the creation of a global marketplace that is mostly indifferent to national borders and governmental influences. This development has generated widespread interest in competitiveness. Competitiveness affects international relations, especially nowadays, given the changing position of the global leaders and the growth of new economic powers such as China. China has come a long way and has the opportunity to be a global leader in several required fields that will be the cornerstones of global growth in the next decades. Led by China, emerging economies are increasing their share in the worldwide economy and intensifying competition in nearly all sectors. It creates new threats and challenges for players in the global economy, and growing competitiveness must be efficient. The article evaluates the Chinese competitiveness in comparison with the World Trade Organization members by the Data Envelopment Analysis in the pre-in-post crisis period and considering the Fourth Industrial Revolution shifting humanity into a new phase.Web of Science6148

LIFE evaluation report: baseline bibliometric analysis

Issued as final reportArizona State Universit

A new perspective on the competitiveness of nations

The capability of firms to survive and to have a competitive advantage in global markets depends on, amongst other things, the efficiency of public institutions, the excellence of educational, health and communications infrastructures, as well as on the political and economic stability of their home country. The measurement of competitiveness and strategy development is thus an important issue for policy-makers. Despite many attempts to provide objectivity in the development of measures of national competitiveness, there are inherently subjective judgments that involve, for example, how data sets are aggregated and importance weights are applied. Generally, either equal weighting is assumed in calculating a final index, or subjective weights are specified. The same problem also occurs in the subjective assignment of countries to different clusters. Developed as such, the value of these type indices may be questioned by users. The aim of this paper is to explore methodological transparency as a viable solution to problems created by existing aggregated indices. For this purpose, a methodology composed of three steps is proposed. To start, a hierarchical clustering analysis is used to assign countries to appropriate clusters. In current methods, country clustering is generally based on GDP. However, we suggest that GDP alone is insufficient for purposes of country clustering. In the proposed methodology, 178 criteria are used for this purpose. Next, relationships between the criteria and classification of the countries are determined using artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANN provides an objective method for determining the attribute/criteria weights, which are, for the most part, subjectively specified in existing methods. Finally, in our third step, the countries of interest are ranked based on weights generated in the previous step. Beyond the ranking of countries, the proposed methodology can also be used to identify those attributes that a given country should focus on in order to improve its position relative to other countries, i.e., to transition from its current cluster to the next higher one

Design and development of a flexible business simulation game.

Availability of managers competent in managing organisations operating in a competitive and global market is among the key factors affecting the likelihood of the success of the transition economies. This in turn will depend on the ability of the higher education institutions to align their curriculum with the needs of industry and commerce. Changes in the curriculum need to be underpinned with the appropriate learning material. This research project, in a small way, fulfils this important need. The primary aim of the work presented in this dissertation is to develop an interactive learning tool that enables the management student to acquire relevant managerial competencies, and knowledge regarding functions and processes of a firm operating in a competitive economy. Development of a business game demands a framework that specifies its requirements. This framework was established by examining the relevant literature, existing business games, and the specific needs of the transition economies. These requirements were used to identify the detailed objectives of the research. The research methodology consisted of: (a) analysis of relevant published papers and existing business games; (b) modelling of business processes; (c) testing the internal validity of the business game using multivariate statistical tools; and (d) testing the external validity of the business game using structured observations, report feedback, and survey of participants. In line with the objectives of this research, a multifunctional Business Simulation Game (BSG) was developed. The game enables the student to acquire skills and knowledge of functional areas, as well as, to develop an understanding of the relationship of those functional areas in the organisation. The resultant BSG has a number of unique features. First, it can operate in two languages, English and Hungarian. Moreover, the program can be easily modified to accommodate other languages. This is important because a majority of students in transition countries can not speak English. Second, based 'on the "white box theory", the students have access to detailed analysis of each functional area. Third, BSG allows the students to choose between practice (playing against the computer) and competitive (playing against other students) mode. Fourth, the development of the functional areas used in the BSG contains new concepts and methods. A new dynamic aggregate market model was developed and validated by using real life data. A new approach for modelling short run production and cost function allows for a deeper understanding of economic theory. The accounting function of BSG includes a completely new methodology for the harmonisation of different accounting systems, and a new approach to computerised accounting. BSG was validated internally and externally. The internal validation included face validation; sensitivity tests; consideration of the existence of dominant factors; and examination of the stability of decision variable – performance criterion relationships. These were accomplished using the response surface methodology and multivariate regression analysis. The external validation was concerned with the effectiveness of BSG as a learning tool. The data was collected by structured observation, report feedback, and survey data from three different cohorts of graduate and postgraduate students. This data was analysed using factor analysis; discriminant analysis; cross tabulation; and independent sample t-test. The analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data suggests that students found BSG to be an effective learning tool. The conduct of this study has found room for further research and improvement to BSG. These include methodological design; content; and the platform of the program. Methodologically, incorporating a linear programming method can improve the final evaluation of the market influential factors of companies, and help to optimise the product distribution. A comprehensive model with short-run revenue and profit functions allows for building up a more comprehensive model. Sustainable development will be included in the future that will be developed on Windows platform. The output of this research project is an interactive learning vehicle that can help the Hungarian business students at all levels to acquire the managerial competencies required to manage in a competitive economy. BSG can also be used by students in other transition economies, as well as students in first and third world countries

The metric tide: report of the independent review of the role of metrics in research assessment and management

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Independent Review of the Role of Metrics in Research Assessment and Management. The review was chaired by Professor James Wilsdon, supported by an independent and multidisciplinary group of experts in scientometrics, research funding, research policy, publishing, university management and administration. This review has gone beyond earlier studies to take a deeper look at potential uses and limitations of research metrics and indicators. It has explored the use of metrics across different disciplines, and assessed their potential contribution to the development of research excellence and impact. It has analysed their role in processes of research assessment, including the next cycle of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). It has considered the changing ways in which universities are using quantitative indicators in their management systems, and the growing power of league tables and rankings. And it has considered the negative or unintended effects of metrics on various aspects of research culture. The report starts by tracing the history of metrics in research management and assessment, in the UK and internationally. It looks at the applicability of metrics within different research cultures, compares the peer review system with metric-based alternatives, and considers what balance might be struck between the two. It charts the development of research management systems within institutions, and examines the effects of the growing use of quantitative indicators on different aspects of research culture, including performance management, equality, diversity, interdisciplinarity, and the ‘gaming’ of assessment systems. The review looks at how different funders are using quantitative indicators, and considers their potential role in research and innovation policy. Finally, it examines the role that metrics played in REF2014, and outlines scenarios for their contribution to future exercises

Hercules finances research infrastructure

In 2007 the Flemish government created a structural funding channel to support investment in research infrastructure: Hercules. On 15 October 2008 the Hercules Foundation approved a first list of investment proposals. In this article specific features of this first call are examined

Applied Evaluative Informetrics: Part 1

This manuscript is a preprint version of Part 1 (General Introduction and Synopsis) of the book Applied Evaluative Informetrics, to be published by Springer in the summer of 2017. This book presents an introduction to the field of applied evaluative informetrics, and is written for interested scholars and students from all domains of science and scholarship. It sketches the field's history, recent achievements, and its potential and limits. It explains the notion of multi-dimensional research performance, and discusses the pros and cons of 28 citation-, patent-, reputation- and altmetrics-based indicators. In addition, it presents quantitative research assessment as an evaluation science, and focuses on the role of extra-informetric factors in the development of indicators, and on the policy context of their application. It also discusses the way forward, both for users and for developers of informetric tools.Comment: The posted version is a preprint (author copy) of Part 1 (General Introduction and Synopsis) of a book entitled Applied Evaluative Bibliometrics, to be published by Springer in the summer of 201