Modern slavery in global value chains: A global factory and governance perspective

‘Modern slavery’ describes various forms of severe relational labour exploitation. In the realm of global value chains and global factories that are led by multinational enterprises, modern slavery encompasses practices such as forced labour and debt bondage. Multinational enterprises organise and orchestrate global value chains into global factories that are highly adaptive to market pressures and changes in the external environment. We employ the global factory framework to conceptualise when and how global value chains become more vulnerable to modern slavery. We argue that combinations of the three global value chain characteristics: complexity, appropriation arrangements, and obligation cascadence, jointly form an environment in which modern slavery can evolve and take root. The degree to which forms of modern slavery become visible and recognisable depends on the particular combination of these characteristics. External factors can moderate the relationship between these factors (e.g. involvement of non-governmental organisations) or exaggerate their effect (e.g. a pandemic)

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission

AbstractUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the University of Cambridge from 5 October to 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 isolates from the surrounding community, complemented with epidemiological and contact tracing data, to determine transmission dynamics. We observe limited viral introductions into the university; the majority of student cases were linked to a single genetic cluster, likely following social gatherings at a venue outside the university. We identify considerable onward transmission associated with student accommodation and courses; this was effectively contained using local infection control measures and following a national lockdown. Transmission clusters were largely segregated within the university or the community. Our study highlights key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in a higher education setting that will inform public health policy during pandemics.</jats:p

Developing positivity in family business leaders

This article describes a qualitative study exploring how a leadership intervention in a group context developed positivity in leaders of family businesses. Ideas are drawn from positivity in organizational scholarship and group social capital. The article makes two contributions: the first is in conceptualizing positivity in family business studies while the second is to contribute to management thought by describing how the leadership intervention developed positivity to lead and manage in leaders of family business. To the best of our knowledge, there is little research that applies these ideas in family business studies.Donella Caspersz and Jill Thoma

Evaluating managerial round-tables for family business: The case study of forum in australia

This paper discusses how „FORUM‟ can be an effective tool for owners and managers of small to medium sized family businesses to meet the management challenges that will take their family businesses into the future. FORUM is a managerial round table that is sponsored by the peak body for family and private businesses in Australia, Family Business Australia (FBA). The paper outlines a conceptual framework for understanding the value proposition of FORUM for family business owners and managers, and presents preliminary research findings undertaken with family business owners, managers and facilitators. We associate value of FORUM to these stakeholders with the positive psychology states of hope, optimism, resiliency and self-confidence as described by Luthans et al. (2005). Apart from affirming aspects of our conceptual framework, a significant finding from our research was the role that the FORUM facilitator plays in shaping an effective FORUM experience.Donella Caspersz and Jill Thoma

Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Remote Sensing and Data Collection: Aerospace Education and Service Learning

The authors conducted a service learning study abroad with 23 students in the Balkan country, Republic of Kosovo, during June and July 2019. Students came from the College of Aviation and Engineering and were enrolled in undergraduate coursework. Using small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), as platforms for remote sensing, students gathered imagery of historical cultural heritage locations and collected atmospheric data in the urban boundary layer (UBL). Funded in part by the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo, the program shows great promise in reinforcing core learning concepts through practical problem solving in field applications. Furthermore, participants benefit from enhanced collaboration, cultural exposure and civic engagement