Electricity portfolio innovation for energy security: the case of carbon constrained China

China’s energy sector is under pressure to achieve secure and affordable supply and a clear decarbonisation path. We examine the longitudinal trajectory of the Chinese electricity supply security and model the near future supply security based on the 12th 5 year plan. Our deterministic approach combines Shannon-Wiener, Herfindahl-Hirschman and electricity import dependence indices for supply security appraisal. We find that electricity portfolio innovation allows China to provide secure energy supply despite increasing import dependence. It is argued that long-term aggressive deployment of renewable energy will unblock China’s coal-biased technological lock-in and increase supply security in all fronts. However, reduced supply diversity in China during the 1990s will not recover until after 2020s due to the long-term coal lock-in that can threaten to hold China’s back from realising its full potential

Alcohol and Substance Misuse in the Construction Industry

The study investigates the factors contributing to the menace of Alcohol and Substance Misuse (ASM) in the construction industry, and its mitigation. Sequential exploratory mixed method design, involving interview and questionnaire were used for collecting data that were subsequently analysed using thematic analysis, factor analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test. Findings suggest that the problem of ASM is largely caused and exacerbated by mental strain, site working conditions, male dominance and ineffective HR management. Screening and educational approaches were confirmed as the carrot and stick methods for mitigating the menace in the construction industry. The finding implies that by making construction companies more accountable for the wellbeing of their workers, a change could be brought in the industry. These changes could be incentivised by initiatives like PREVENT to mitigate the crisis currently endemic in construction. The study suggests some practical measures for tackling the menace of ASM that is bedevilling the constructio

“Hub” Organisations in Kenya: What are they? What do they do? And what is their potential?

From Senegal to Tanzania, and South Africa to Egypt, over the last decade “hub” organisations have proliferated across the African continent. Whilst this rapid growth has been accompanied by increasing academic interest, to date, works examining this phenomenon and this new dynamic organisational form remain limited. This study aims to contribute towards addressing this gap by examining hub organisations in Kenya. More specifically, and drawing upon in-depth qualitative case study research with three hubs, it examines: the nature of hubs in Kenya, what they are; unpacks what they do, and especially the role of hubs as intermediaries; and evaluates the potential of hubs, including as promoters of entrepreneurship, innovation and wider positive social change in Kenya. This research identifies the multiple hybridities of hub organisations in Kenya. It finds that they perform an intermediary role working institutional voids. Finally, both potential and limitations of hubs are identified. This research contributes to hitherto limited work on hubs, especially in Africa, and theorises hubs as hybrid intermediary organisations. It also showcases Africa as an important but still understudied context for management scholarship