Exploring the Internationalisation of Chinese Privately-owned Enterprises (POEs)

Internationalisation has long been a focus of research among international business scholars. However, there is little knowledge about Chinese firms' internationalisation processes. This study is based on the premise that Chinese firms may have different international behaviours, compared to Western firms, given China's distinctive institutional and cultural environments. To test this argument, this thesis examines Chinese firms' internationalisation rationales, approaches and influential factors. It focuses on small and medium-sized privately-owned enterprises (POEs) that are actively engaged in international operations. Interviews were conducted with decision makers of six POEs from four industries, including the telecommunications networks, electronics, meters, and textiles. These firms were located in Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. The data collected were analysed using within-case and cross-case analysis approaches. Findings were then compared to extant literature, including the Uppsala's internationalisation process model (U-model) and the theory associated with international new ventures (INVs). The findings presented here indicate that the Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours are not particularly different from their Western counterparts. Even though neither the U-model nor the INVs framework alone could fully capture the complexities of the Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes, both demonstrate their applicability in different ways. The study develops 15 propositions that should enable researchers to develop a better understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for theory development and future research, as well as managerial implications. This case study contributes to a wider theoretical understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours

Synthesis, Mechanical And Chemical, Characterization Of Vanadium- Based Aerogels

Monolithic aerogels are highly mesoporous materials that have low density, low thermal conductivity, low dielectric constant as well as high acoustic impendence, a few of the properties that make them attractive for wide range of applications in thermal and acoustic insulation, electronics, separations and catalysis. However, fragility, hydrophilicity, as well as the requirement for drying using supercritical fluid extraction has limited the actual use to only specialized space applications or as Cerenkov radiation detectors in some types of nuclear reactors. Recently, the fragility problem was solved by casting a conformal polymer coating over the skeletal framework of typical silica aerogels prepared via a base-catalyzed sol-gel method (Leventis et al. 2002). That framework consists of a pearl-necklace like three-dimensional assembly of nanoparticles. The applied polymer coating cross-links the nanoparticles by developing covalent bonding with their surface and reinforces the structure without clogging the pores. Thus, the density typically increases by a factor of 3, while the strength at failure increases by a factor of 300 with a remaining porosity at 70% (Leventis et al. 2002; Zhang et al. 2004; Bertino et al. 2004). Cross-linked samples are able to deform by over 77% compressive strain without developing surface cracks, and remain stable when saturated with water.Mechanical & Aerospace Engineerin

Emigration and its effect on Kenya's economic development through the duality of diaspora remittances and brain drain

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Development Policy,2015Globalization has impacted on nations, households and individuals in various ways. This is evidenced by the enhanced movement of factors of production - labour and capital- across international borders at much enhanced volumes than ever before. The movement of labour across boundaries, which is categorized as migration, has had profound effects, both on migrant receiving and sending countries. This effects can be categorized as brain drain in the migrant sending country, if the migrants are highly skilled or have achieved a high level of education. The receiving countries, on the other hand are said to experience a brain gain. One consequence of the movement of labour across international borders is that the migrants send a proportion of their earnings to their countries of origin. These earnings are called remittances, and they have become a significant source of international resource flows, together with FDI and ODA. The purpose of these paper is to investigate the effects of these two phenomena on Kenya''s economic development. The research suggests that whereas remittances do not have significant effect on Kenya''s economic development, brain drain is clearly costing the country. As such, the country should not only seek ways to promote remittances, but should also institute measures to stem the flow of human capital from Kenya, if the country is to achieve its long term development agenda.masterpublishedChuru Christopher MUNYINYI

Engineering Education in Developing Nations: Progress on the School of Engineering at Northrise University in Ndola, Zambia

The engineering and technology capabilities of developed nations continues to advance and to be a major driver of the economies of those nations. Developing nations recognize this reality, and they accordingly recognize the importance of nurturing the growth of their own countries’ STEM capabilities. Engineering education in developing nations is thus a critical need; but it is work that, for a variety of reasons, tends to be under-resourced by developing nations themselves as well as by potential participants from developed nations. As followers of Jesus, we sometimes find our hearts stirred on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ in developing nations by needs along these lines, yet we also sense the staggering magnitude of the challenge. Thus, when the Lord opens an avenue for making a practical and lasting contribution, we might find it hard to resist getting involved. Over the past 5+ years, just such an avenue has been opened at Northrise University in Ndola, Zambia, and four professors—two from Dordt University and two from LeTourneau University—have indeed found the opportunity hard to resist. Led by these four, the development of a school of engineering at Northrise —specifically a 5-year bachelor’s degree program in Civil Engineering—is well along and is on track for a target opening date of February 2024. This paper will focus mostly on the practical aspects of the project, divided into three areas of activity related to the development of curriculum, facilities, and faculty. Where appropriate, attention is also given to some of the philosophical and cross-cultural questions that have naturally arisen as the endeavor has progressed

Scalable, Hydrophobic and Highly-Stretchable Poly(isocyanurate-Urethane) Aerogels

Scalable, low-density and flexible aerogels offer a unique combination of excellent mechanical properties and scalable manufacturability. Herein, we report the fabrication of a family of low-density, ambient-dried and hydrophobic poly(isocyanurate-urethane) aerogels derived from a triisocyanate precursor. The bulk densities ranged from 0.28 to 0.37 g cm-3 with porosities above 70% v/v. The aerogels exhibit a highly stretchable behavior with a rapid increase in the Young\u27s modulus with bulk density (slope of log-log plot \u3e 6.0). In addition, the aerogels are very compressible (more than 80% compressive strain) with high shape recovery rate (more than 80% recovery in 30 s). Under tension even at high strains (e.g., more than 100% tensile strain), the aerogels at lower densities do not display a significant lateral contraction and have a Poisson\u27s ratio of only 0.22. Under dynamic conditions, the properties (e.g., complex moduli and dynamic stress-strain curves) are highly frequency- and rate-dependent, particularly in the Hopkinson pressure bar experiment where in comparison with quasi-static compression results, the properties such as mechanical strength were three orders of magnitude stiffer. The attained outcome of this work supports a basis on the understanding of the fundamental mechanical behavior of a scalable organic aerogel with potential in engineering applications including damping, energy absorption, and substrates for flexible devices

Assessing the influence of artisanal fishing on income and livelihood of the coastal communities in Tanzania: the case of Mkinga district, Tanga region

This study unveiled the influence of artisanal fishing on a coastal community's income and livelihood in the Mkinga District, Tanga region. Particularly, it seeks to: determine fish catch and gross margins across, investigate the influence of fish income on the households total incomes, and factors affecting income earnings in the marketing chain. The study used interviews and focus group discussions on obtaining primary data. Simultaneously, the internet, government documentation units at different levels were the sources of secondary data. It involved a total of 125 randomly selected respondents. Moreover, Gross Margin (GM), Marketing Margin (MG), and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics 25) were employed for analysis.Results show the socio-economic status of the respondents was generally poor. The majority of fishers have low education levels (44%), and they depend on fishing for livelihoods. Furthermore, compared to other groups computation of gross margins revealed that artisanal fishers earned the lowest (12.2%) with a gross margin of T.shs 443.6. Despite the lowest gross margin earning than other players, the fish income contributes highly (83.8%) to the total household incomes.  Therefore, improvement in the fisheries sector results has a high impact on artisanal fishers' wellbeing. Moreover, factors affecting their income include lack of credit to purchase modern fishing and storage equipment, high cost of fishing gear, poor roads, low bargaining power, inadequate extension services, and lack of market information. Hence, the study recommends the government address observed constraining factors affecting artisanal fishers' incomes to increase their income

Women’s landownership under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) : a case study of Seke District, Zimbabwe

Title and text in English, with abstract and keywords in English, Zulu and AfrikaansGlobally, women have less access to land and own less land than men. Women make up on average less than 20 per cent of the world’s landholders but make up an estimated 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force (Facio 2017). Despite their important role in agriculture and food security, women have limited access to land compared to men. The Zimbabwean Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), like previous land reform programmes such as Land Reform and Resettlement Programmes 1 and 2, has fallen short in ensuring gender equity in land redistribution, affecting women’s livelihoods negatively. The aim of the study was to assess the extent to which the FTLRP has incorporated gender interests at policy level and in implementation practice by evaluating the provision made by the Inception Phase Framework Plan 1999–2000 and the Government Land Reform Policy Document of 2001 for women to access and own land in Zimbabwe. The study determined how the Inception Phase Framework Plan 1999–2000 and the Government Land Reform Policy Document of 2001 influence women’s access to and control and use of land under the FTLRP in Zimbabwe; explored the socioeconomic impact of the limitations that Zimbabwean customary law imposes on women's landownership under the FTLRP; and determined the extent to which the FTLRP makes provision for women to acquire land and derive livelihoods from it. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Secondary data on gender and the FTLRP, such as government policy documents, and international and regional legal frameworks on women’s land rights, were used in the study. The data obtained in this way were complemented by field research undertaken in Seke District, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. Beneficiaries of the FTLRP at Dartmoor and Ellerdale farms and government officials involved in the land allocation process in Seke District were purposively selected as key informants in the study since they had information on how the FTLRP has been carried out and how women have accessed land in the district. A total of thirty participants from Dartmoor and Ellerdale farms, one government official of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement (Department of Lands) and one Agricultural Research Extension officer (AREX) officer from the Crop and Livestock Department were selected for interviews. The findings revealed that the FTLRP does not have a gender policy. The main policy focus of the FTLRP is equitable land redistribution between races; gender is not prioritised. It is recommended that the Zimbabwean government adopt an inclusive development policy that will ensure gender mainstreaming in the land reform process to achieve meaningful and sustainable development. Legal policies on women’s landownership should be fully implemented.Emhlabeni jikelele, abesifazane banokufinyelela okunacane kumhlaba futhi banomhlaba omncane kunabesilisa. Abesifazane ngokwesilinganiso bangaphansi kwamaphesenti angama-20 abanikazi bomhlaba emhlabeni kodwa balinganiselwa kumaphesenti angama-43 abantu abasebenza kwezolimo. Ngaphezu kweqhaza labo elibalulekile kwezolimo kanye nokuvikeleka kokudla, abesifazane banokuncane ukufinyelela emhlabeni uma kuqhathaniswa nabesilisa. Uhlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba lwaseZimbabwean, njengezinhlelo zangaphambilini zokubuyiswa komhlaba ezifana nezinhlelo zokubuyiswa komhlaba kanye nezinhlelo zokuhlaliswa kabusha zoku-1 nezesi- 2, selwehlile ekuqinisekiseni ukulingana ngokobulili ekwabiweni kabusha komhlaba, okuthinta impilo yabesifazane kabi. Inhloso yocwaningo bekuwukuhlola ukuthi Uhlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba lifake kangakanani intshisekelo yobulili ezingeni lenqubomgomo nasekusetshenzisweni kokwenziwayo ngokuhlola ukuhlinzekwa okwenziwa Uhlelo Lokuqala Lohlaka Lwesigaba sonyaka we-1999–2000 kanye Nomqulu Kahulumeni Wokuguqulwa Komhlaba wonyaka wezi-2001 wabesifazane. ukufinyelela nokuba nobunikazi bomhlaba eZimbabwe. Ucwaningo lunqume ukuthi Uhlelo Lokuqala Lohlaka Lwesigaba sonyaka we-1999–2000 kanye Nomqulu Kahulumeni Wokuguqulwa Komhlaba wonyaka wezi-2001 zinethonya kanjani ekufinyeleleni nasekulawuleni nasekusetshenzisweni komhlaba ngaphansi koHlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba eZimbabwe; yahlola umthelela wenhlalakahle yezomnotho wemikhawulo ebekwa ngumthetho wesintu waseZimbabwe kubunikazi bomhlaba babesifazane ngaphansi koHlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba; futhi yanquma ukuthi Uhlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba yenza kangakanani ukuhlinzekela ukuthi abesifazane bathole umhlaba futhi bathole indlela yokuziphilisa kuwo. Kuye kwamukelwa indlela yocwaningo lwesimo kulesi sifundo. Iminingwane elandelayo engeyesibili yobulili noHlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba, efana nemibhalo yenqubomgomo kahulumeni, nezinhlaka zomthetho zamazwe ngamazwe nezesifunda ngamalungelo omhlaba wabesifazane, zisetshenziswe ocwaningweni. Imininingwane etholwe ngale ndlela ihambisane nocwaningo olwenziwe esiFundeni iSeke, Empumalanga neMashonaland, eZimbabwe. Abahlomuli boHlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba emapulazini ase-Dartmoor nase-Ellerdale kanye nezikhulu zikahulumeni ezibambe iqhaza ohlelweni lokwabiwa komhlaba esiFundeni saseSeke baqokwe ngenhloso njengabanolwazi olubalulekile ocwaningweni njengoba babenolwazi lokuthi Uhlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba yenziwe kanjani nokuthi abesifazane bawuthole kanjani umhlaba kuyisifunda. Isamba sababambiqhaza abangamashumi amathathu abavela emapulazini ase-Dartmoor nase-Ellerdale, isikhulu sikahulumeni esisodwa soMnyango Wezemihlaba, EzoLimo Nokuhlaliswa Kabusha Kwezindawo Zasemakhaya (uMnyango Wezemihlaba) kanye nesikhulu esisodwa seSandiso Socwaningo Lwezolimo soMnyango Wezitshalo Nemfuyo bakhethelwe inhlolokhono. Okutholakele kuveze ukuthi Uhlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba alinawo umgomo wobulili. Okugxilwe kakhulu kwenqubomgomo yoHlelo Olusheshayo Lokuguqulwa Komhlaba ukwabiwa kabusha komhlaba ngokulinganayo phakathi kwezinhlanga; ubulili abubekwa phambili. Kunconywa ukuthi uhulumenI weZimbabwe athathe umthetho wentuthuko ogoqela abantu ozaqinisekisa ukuthi ubulili buqakathekiswa kuhlelo lokubuyiswa komhlaba ukuze kube nentuthuko ezwakalayo njalo futhi eqhubekayo. Izinqubomgomo zomthetho mayelana nokuba nomhlaba kwabesifazane kufanele zisetshenziswe ngokugcwele.Vroue wêreldwyd het minder toegang tot grond en besit minder grond in vergelyking met mans. Vroue maak gemiddeld minder as 20 persent van die wêreld se grondeienaars uit, maar vorm na raming 43 persent van die landbou-arbeidsmag. Ten spyte van die belangrike rol wat hulle in landbou en voedselsekerheid speel, het vroue beperkte toegang tot grond, vergeleke met mans. Net soos vorige grondhervormingsprogramme soos die sogenaamde Land Reform and Resettlement Programmes (1 and 2), het die Zimbabwean Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) nie aan die vereistes voldoen om geslagsgelykheid ten opsigte van die herverdeling van grond te verseker nie, en dit het ’n negatiewe uitwerking op vroue se bestaan gehad. Die oogmerk van hierdie studie was om te bepaal in watter mate die FTLRP geslagsbelange op beleidsvlak en in implementeringspraktyk geïnkorporeer het, deur die bepaling te evalueer wat deur die Inception Phase Framework Plan 1999–2000 en die Government Land Reform Policy Document of 2001 daargestel is sodat vroue grond in Zimbabwe kan bekom en kan besit. Die studie het bepaal hoe die Inception Phase Framework Plan 1999–2000 en die Government Land Reform Policy Document of 2001 vroue se toegang tot grond en hul beheer oor en gebruik van grond onder die FTLRP in Zimbabwe beïnvloed. Verder het die studie die sosio-ekonomiese impak van die beperkings wat Zimbabwe se gewoontereg op vroue se grondbesit onder die FTLRP plaas, ondersoek; en die mate bepaal waarin die FTLRP voorsiening maak vir vroue om grond te bekom en ’n bestaan daaruit te maak. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is tydens die studie gevolg. Sekondêre data oor geslag en die FTLRP, soos regeringsbeleidsdokumente, en internasionale sowel as streekswetsraamwerke oor vroue se grondregte, is in die studie gebruik. Die data wat op hierdie wyse bekom is, is aangevul deur veldnavorsing wat onderneem is in die Seke-distrik, Mashonaland-Oos, Zimbabwe. Voordeeltrekkers van die FTLRP op die Dartmoor- en Ellerdale-plase, sowel as staatsamptenare wat by die grondtoewysingsproses in die Seke-distrik betrokke is, is doelbewus gekies as sleutelinformante in die studie, omdat hulle oor inligting beskik het van hoe die FTLRP uitgevoer is en hoe vroue grond in die distrik verkry het. Altesaam dertig deelnemers van die Dartmoor- en Ellerdale-plase, een staatsamptenaar van die Ministerie van Grond, Landbou en Landelike Hervestiging (Departement van Grond) en een Agricultural Research Extension (AREX)-beampte van die Gewasse- en Lewendehawe-departement is vir onderhoude gekies. Die bevindinge het getoon dat die FTLRP nie ’n geslagsbeleid het nie. Die vernaamste beleidsfokus van die FTLRP is regverdige herverdeling van grond tussen rasse; geslag geniet nie voorkeur nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die Zimbabwiese regering ’n inklusiewe ontwikkelingsbeleid volg, wat die hoofstroming van geslag in die grondhervormingsproses sal verseker, ten einde betekenisvolle en volhoubare ontwikkeling te bewerkstellig. Wetsbeleide oor vroue se grondbesit moet ten volle geïmplementeer word.Development StudiesM.A. (Development Studies

Exploring the Internationalisation of Chinese Privately-owned Enterprises (POEs)

Internationalisation has long been a focus of research among international business scholars. However, there is little knowledge about Chinese firms' internationalisation processes. This study is based on the premise that Chinese firms may have different international behaviours, compared to Western firms, given China's distinctive institutional and cultural environments. To test this argument, this thesis examines Chinese firms' internationalisation rationales, approaches and influential factors. It focuses on small and medium-sized privately-owned enterprises (POEs) that are actively engaged in international operations. Interviews were conducted with decision makers of six POEs from four industries, including the telecommunications networks, electronics, meters, and textiles. These firms were located in Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. The data collected were analysed using within-case and cross-case analysis approaches. Findings were then compared to extant literature, including the Uppsala's internationalisation process model (U-model) and the theory associated with international new ventures (INVs). The findings presented here indicate that the Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours are not particularly different from their Western counterparts. Even though neither the U-model nor the INVs framework alone could fully capture the complexities of the Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes, both demonstrate their applicability in different ways. The study develops 15 propositions that should enable researchers to develop a better understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for theory development and future research, as well as managerial implications. This case study contributes to a wider theoretical understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours.</p

Exploring the Internationalisation of Chinese Privately-owned Enterprises (POEs)

Internationalisation has long been a focus of research among international business scholars. However, there is little knowledge about Chinese firms' internationalisation processes. This study is based on the premise that Chinese firms may have different international behaviours, compared to Western firms, given China's distinctive institutional and cultural environments. To test this argument, this thesis examines Chinese firms' internationalisation rationales, approaches and influential factors. It focuses on small and medium-sized privately-owned enterprises (POEs) that are actively engaged in international operations. Interviews were conducted with decision makers of six POEs from four industries, including the telecommunications networks, electronics, meters, and textiles. These firms were located in Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. The data collected were analysed using within-case and cross-case analysis approaches. Findings were then compared to extant literature, including the Uppsala's internationalisation process model (U-model) and the theory associated with international new ventures (INVs). The findings presented here indicate that the Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours are not particularly different from their Western counterparts. Even though neither the U-model nor the INVs framework alone could fully capture the complexities of the Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes, both demonstrate their applicability in different ways. The study develops 15 propositions that should enable researchers to develop a better understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation processes. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for theory development and future research, as well as managerial implications. This case study contributes to a wider theoretical understanding of Chinese POEs' internationalisation behaviours

Homogenisation of titanium - 6 aluminium - 4 vanadium (TI-6AL-4V) powder blends during sintering

Titanium alloys have received significant attention in recent years primarily within the aerospace sector due to their superior material properties, high strength to weight ratios and high resistance to corrosion. However, high processing costs associated with the alloys have hindered their usage in other fields such as the automotive industry. The powder metallurgy (PM) method is an emerged method that may lower processing costs. The blended elemental (BE) route to produce titanium alloys has been identified as the cheapest process by which the PM process can be applied. The powder metallurgy method has a few limitations, one of the associated limitations is that elemental powder blends must be homogenized in terms of chemical composition for them to meet the same quality standards as ingot processed titanium alloys. To combine cost effectiveness with good mechanical property attainment, the sintering process should be optimized at the lowest temperatures and shortest duration. In the current study, Ti-6Al-4V alloys were synthesized by the blended elemental press and sinter powder metallurgy route. This was carried out using three different powder blends comprising of Ti (100µm) and TiH2 (63µm) as base powders, blended with either Al (75µm), V (25 µm) or a 60Al-40V (40µm) master alloy powder (MA). The powder blends made from the powders were namely TiH2 + MA, TiH2 + Al+ V and CpTi + MA. The average particle sizes in each case are indicated in parentheses. As a precursor to mechanical property measurement, the relative degree of homogenization that occurs during sintering of powders shaped by uniaxial pressing was investigated at sintering temperatures of 1000 - 1350⁰C under vacuum at times ranging from 0.5 hours to 4 hours. The homogenization was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The density was measured using the Archimedes method. The EDS approach was used at a specific length scale (100µm× 100µm) to assess the degree of elemental mixing that occurs during the limited sintering exposure. A combination of SEM/EDS analysis and XRD was successfully used to measure homogenization progress of the powder blends. The different powder blends reached different levels of homogeneity at different temperature and time. The TiH2 + MA powder blend became fully homogeneous after sintering at 1350°C for 2 hours with a relative density of 98% ± 1. Three stable beta peaks coinciding with the wrought titanium spectra were also shown after sintering at 1350°C for 2 hours . The CpTi + MA powder did not reach full homogeneity as the TiH2 + MA powder blend at any of the sintering temperature and times but after sintering at 1350°C for 4 hours the samples demonstrated reasonable homogeneity, although still significantly less homogeneous than the wrought alloy. There were some peaks that had peak broadening and peak splitting also shown that were closely related to the beta peaks of the wrought titanium shown in the XRD spectra but were not fully stable and a relative density of 97% ±1. The TiH2 + Al + V powder blend also did not reach homogeneity at any of the sintering temperature and time, there was however an improvement in diffusivity of aluminium and vanadium after sintering at 1350°C for 4 hours, with a relative density of 96% ± 1, no beta peaks were shown in the XRD spectra. The factors that mainly affected homogeneity besides time and temperature were the type of base powder as well as alloying elements. From the experiments, it was noticed that when Al and V are added as elemental alloys there was a 2-hour increase in sintering time for relative homogeneity to improve due to aluminum diffusing faster than vanadium at lower temperatures and stabilizing the alpha titanium phase. Whereas when vanadium and aluminum were added as a master alloy it resulted in a faster diffusion of both elements, therefore, reaching homogeneity earlier. The combination of TiH2 + MA powder blend had the lowest temperature and time reaching homogeneity at 1350°C after 2 hours of sintering