Nucleus 2009: Are You In?

This is a digitized, downloadable version of the New Jersey Institute of Technology Nucleus.https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/yearbooks/1095/thumbnail.jp

Informal Practices of Ethnic Entrepreneurs Operating Micro Sized Enterprises

This research aims to develop a more nuanced understanding of informal practices that have manifested specifically in the operations of South Asian entrepreneurs operating micro sized enterprises. This research focuses on the experiences of entrepreneurs and the enterprises they operate in order to explore and comprehend the boundaries of informality and illegality. The study is underpinned by structuration theory, i.e. agency, the actions of entrepreneurs, and structure, internal and external influences that promote entrepreneurs to engage in informal activities. To support the focus on the enterprises of respondents, I created a Hexagon model canvas that is utilised to present the operations of micro enterprises which assists in demonstrating the integration of informal practices. A qualitative inductive approach was incorporated to gather data through semi-structured and unstructured interviews, and conversations with South Asian entrepreneurs operating micro sized enterprises within South Yorkshire. A thematic data analysis enabled the production of themes such as employment and health and safety that revolve around cash transactions. Findings suggest that the above types of activities and the avoidance of regulations has become an integral aspect of business operations that manifest as informal practices. In addition to the creation of the Hexagon model canvas to analyse business models, this research proposes an enterprise framework that highlights five specific types of micro sized enterprises owned and managed by South Asian entrepreneurs. This research also includes entrepreneurial concepts that demonstrates South Asian entrepreneurs are predominantly opportunity driven and operate either Type 2, The Legal Enterprise with Marginal Illegal Activity, or Type 3, The Opportunistic Enterprise

History, ideology and negotiation: the politics of policy transition in West Bengal, India

The thesis offers an examination of a distinct chapter in the era of economic reforms in India - the case of the state of West Bengal - and narrates the politics of an economic policy transition spearheaded by the Left Front coalition government that ruled the state from 1977 to 2011. In 1991, the Government of India began to pursue a far more liberal policy of economic development, with emphasis being placed on non-agricultural growth, the role of the private sector, and the merits of foreign direct investment (FDI). This caused serious political challenges for the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM), the main party in the Left Front. Historically, the CPIM was committed to pro-poor policies focused on the countryside and had spoken out strongly against privatisation and FDI; however it could not ignore the stagnating industrial economy of the state, and was thus compelled to court private investment and take advantage of the liberalised policy environment. The nature of this dichotomy – one that characterised the political economy of West Bengal over the last two decades – is studied in this research as a set of why-how questions. Firstly, why did the CPIM/Left Front take upon itself the task of engineering a transition from an erstwhile landreform and agriculture based growth model to a pro-market development agenda post-1991? And secondly, how was such a choice justified to/negotiated with the various stakeholders (the rank and file of the CPIM itself, other coalition member parties, trade unions, the industrial class, etc.) while sustaining the party’s traditional rhetoric and partisan character? In examining the second part, the thesis also ventures into the recent cases of huge opposition to land acquisition for industrial plants at Singur and Nandigram, and demonstrates how the mandate of the top brass of party leadership in Calcutta was being implemented, translated or contested at the local levels. On the whole, this thesis attempts a reappraisal of the politicaleconomic history of the Left Front regime and particularly that of its majority partner, the CPIM, over the last two decades. It also places the case in a broader Indian context and contributes to wider debates on the changing nature of federalism in India and the politics of economic reform

Fairness and Bias in Algorithmic Hiring

Employers are adopting algorithmic hiring technology throughout the recruitment pipeline. Algorithmic fairness is especially applicable in this domain due to its high stakes and structural inequalities. Unfortunately, most work in this space provides partial treatment, often constrained by two competing narratives, optimistically focused on replacing biased recruiter decisions or pessimistically pointing to the automation of discrimination. Whether, and more importantly what types of, algorithmic hiring can be less biased and more beneficial to society than low-tech alternatives currently remains unanswered, to the detriment of trustworthiness. This multidisciplinary survey caters to practitioners and researchers with a balanced and integrated coverage of systems, biases, measures, mitigation strategies, datasets, and legal aspects of algorithmic hiring and fairness. Our work supports a contextualized understanding and governance of this technology by highlighting current opportunities and limitations, providing recommendations for future work to ensure shared benefits for all stakeholders

Examining Students’ Covariational Reasoning Through Mathematical Modeling Activities Embedded in the Context of the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is one of the most pressing environmental as well as social issues of the present age. In news media and weather reports, most of the essential information about the phenomenon is expressed in forms of graphs and pictures. However, the interpretation of such graphs is challenging for students; they often focus on the shape of the graphs, overlooking the covariational relationships between the concerned quantities. Building on the framework of critical mathematics literacy and social justice mathematics, in this study I aimed to explore the power of dynamic mathematical modeling activities for engaging students in covariational reasoning and developing their understanding about the greenhouse effect. More specifically, this study aimed to explore a) the extent to which students’ understanding of the greenhouse effect and covariational reasoning changed as a result of their engagement with the mathematical modeling activities, and b) the ways in which students may reason covariationally as they engage with mathematical modeling activities in the context of the greenhouse effect. To engage students in covariational reasoning in the context of the greenhouse effect, three NetLogo dynamic simulations and accompanied activities were developed and implemented in two sixth-grade classrooms in the form of a whole class design experiment. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the form of pre- and post-assessments and video recordings of whole class discussions and small group interactions. The analysis of the quantitative data shows a significant improvement in post-assessment scores of the treatment group students compared to their peers in a control group. The qualitative analysis that followed helped me understand the meaning of the improved post-assessment scores by studying students’ reasoning as they interacted with the simulations. The analysis of the qualitative data indicates that the design of the three simulations and activities as well as the targeted questioning provided a productive space for students to engage in different levels of covariational reasoning according to Carlson et al.’s mental action framework and helped them identify the causes and the consequences of the greenhouse effect

An Interpretive Analysis of Long-Term Success of Black Business in Britain

Black Africans are one of the most prominent and fastest growing minority groups in the United Kingdom. They are also represented in entrepreneurship but like most ethnic minority businesses they continue to struggle against structural and environmental obstacles. Long-term success of Black African entrepreneurship will significantly improve to UK economy, create employment, bridge inequality gap and reduce tension and crime in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to extend the body of knowledge on Black African entrepreneurship. Employing the mixed embeddedness model, it explores the cultural inclination, unique characteristics and challenges they face and their entrepreneurial dynamics. It examines the relationship at the micro, meso and macro levels which gives insight into the opportunities enabled, obstacles encountered, and strategies employed by Black African entrepreneurs in achieving entrepreneurial success. It is useful in understanding success and its measure not just in general terms but as it specifically applies to Black African entrepreneurs and how this concept is framed through their lived experiences and history within the environment in which they are embedded. It is an exploratory research and it employs the qualitative methodology to capture the robustness of Black African entrepreneurship. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and entrepreneurs were chosen across different industries. Data was collected from twenty-five Black business owners residing in London. Participants were recruited through quota and snowballing techniques and data analyzed using inductive content analysis. Findings revealed Black business owners perceive success as the presence of personal and macro variables. For entrepreneurial success to be accurately gauged in ethnic entrepreneurship, non-financial factors must be measured. Moreover, Black African entrepreneur’s needs to be studied with careful consideration of the differences in first and second generation as distinct differences were found in their perception, definition and measures of success. This has a significant implication in entrepreneurial engagement and outcomes. While, the first-generation is constrained by limited resources and ethnic embeddedness, the second-generation leverages the skills and resources acquired and develop both ethnic and non-ethnic ties. The interaction of the micro, macro and meso components are different across the two generations and diverse factors are responsible for success. The second-generation is changing the entrepreneurial landscape by bringing their unique set of skills to bear but more needs to be done to consolidate their position as successful entrepreneurs. Finally, in order to bridge the performance gap especially with the future generation there is need to move from reactive strategy, that is driven by situation and implement long-term strategies to build capacity in entrepreneurship and business management. This study has implication for policy in providing a springboard for deliberation towards effective business support and in promoting quality entrepreneurship within the Black community. This research unpacks the concept of long-term success and how various factors contribute to the entrepreneurial outcomes of Black Africans