Education for the Base of the Pyramid People (BOP) using Voice Internet e-Learning

AbstractThe need for education, especially for the Base of the Pyramid people (BOP) is very important from various aspects including their survivability, Economic, Social, Cultural and other developments, and minimizing the Digital Divide & Rich-Poor gap. Since many BOP are illiterate, live in rural areas where schools or educational institutions are scarce and cannot afford to go to schools, educating such population is a daunting task. In this paper, we describe a practical affordable solution to educate BOP using Voice Internet e-Learning that uses an Intelligent Agent and user's voice using any phone. Our approach uses both informal and formal learning including learning how to read or write using natural language. We emphasize on practical informal learning on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to ensure immediate and sustainable significant impact on Economic, Social and Cultural developments, along with creation of an enormous “Resource”

An Efficient Method of Estimating Sediment Discharge in Rivers

Quantifying of sediment discharge with conventional measurement techniques is expensive and labor intensive. An efficient method that can estimate the average cross-sectional sediment concentration and discharge in a river channel by single-point sampling was developed. This method relies on the Chiu's velocity and sediment distribution models, which are based on a probability concept. The advantage of this approach compared to conventional methods is that the velocity and sediment concentration can be accurately estimated throughout the water depth, including the channel bed and water surface. This method requires determining the location of a vertical hereinafter is referred to as the y-axis, where the maximum velocity of the entire cross section occurs. The correlation between the mean sediment concentration on each vertical and the cross-sectional mean concentration is computed. It has been found that the optimal location of sediment sampling should be on y-axis at a point where sediment concentration is equal to the mean concentration on y-axis. A family of plots for selection of the sampling location was developed. Finally, a method based on Chiu's sediment transport model and data analysis was developed to estimate the mean sediment concentration in a channel section. This sediment concentration can be used to calculate the sediment discharge

Adaptive Management Guidelines: Ganges Basin Development Challenge

The goal of the Ganges BDC is ‘to reduce poverty, improve food security and strengthen livelihood resilience in coastal areas through improvement management, and more productive and diversified farm systems.’ Five inter-related projects address the BDC objective. The role of the Ganges Coordination and Change-Enabling project is to ensure that Projects 1-4 are well integrated into a program of research that ultimately delivers change – development outcomes and impacts. It therefore contributes to all BDC project goals through various actions. The adaptive management guideline is prepared considering the three major sections: a) Monitoring and Evaluation activities; b) Information & Communication, and; c) Capacity development

Integrating Learning Outcomes Assessment In Information Systems Curriculum Revisions

This paper examines various dimensions of outcomes assessment and analyzes the assurance of learning process that is mandated by business schools’ accrediting agency, AACSB International.  We describe learning outcomes assessment, various types of assessment, and why it is important to align assessment with learning goals and instruction.  Information systems model curriculum 2002 and AACSB International share similar goals in terms of outcomes assessment.  IS programs should make sure that feedback from the assessment process along with input from internal and external sources, are used to make curricular adjustments.   

An Object-oriented Design for an Adaptive System to Augment a Telecommunication and Networking Systems (TNS) Course

An object-oriented system is designed to enhance the instruction in a telecommunication and networking course. The areas covered include rationale for using a hypermedia structure, multi-modal instruction and development strategies, instructional design components, systems architecture, and course content and unit organization

A STUDY ON COMPETITIVENESS OF READY-MADE GARMENTS FOR EXPORT-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN BANGLADESH: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract: Bangladesh achieved remarkable economic development in the last few decades, and the ready-made garment (RMG) industry played a vital role in this regard. The future economic development of the country depends on the success and continuation of such industrial sectors for export-led growth of the country. Considering the importance of the export-led economic growth strategy, this study assessed the global competitiveness of this industry. Michael Porter’s Diamond model of national competitiveness is used as the main analytical framework to assess the sources of competitiveness. A SWOT analysis is also conducted to identify future challenges and critical success factor for the continuing contribution of the industry. The study followed a mixed method approach to investigate the research questions. Secondary literature, consisting mainly of reports and documents from government and the private sector, were collected to comprehend the contemporary industry. A survey of 199 respondents from 150 RMG factories was conducted to assess effects and relative weights of different factors included in the National Diamond model and to understand the basis of the competitiveness of the RMG industry of Bangladesh. A further 30 face-to-face interviews with representatives from five different stakeholder groups including international buyers were conducted to get further explanations and insights of different factors of importance for achieving and maintaining the competitiveness of the RMG industry of Bangladesh. The findings of the study reveal that not all the dimensions of Porter’s National Diamond model contributed to the competitiveness of the RMG industry. Among the four main National Diamond dimensions, the RMG industry of Bangladesh appeared to enjoy competitiveness without having a favorable demand condition in the domestic market. The other three main dimensions—i.e., the factor conditions, related and support industries, and industry strategy, structure and rivalry—mostly played conducive roles in the development of the RMG industry in Bangladesh and provided the impetus to achieve competitive advantage in the global market. However, within factor conditions, the availability of a large unskilled workforce, strategic locations and reasonable infrastructure acted as sources of competitive advantage despite some limitations including a lack of highly skilled mid-level RMG professionals, limited access to adequate financing, and deficiencies in R&D activities. Similarly, regarding related and support industries, a large number of backward-linkage knitwear industries positively contributed towards competitiveness, though industry respondents indicated an absence of well-developed clusters as a limitation compared to other countries. In the case of industry strategy, structure and rivalry, collaborative actions by the industry association regarding compliance issues, as well as collective responses to buyers’ needs, were identified as sources of competitive advantage, while sub-contracting to non-compliant factories and a lack of systematic R&D (e.g., an absence of a common e-platform) were considered as limitations. The findings indicate that the positive impact of favorable factors of those three dimensions (factor conditions, related and support industries, and industry strategy, structure and rivalry) were relatively stronger than the negative impacts, and contribute to the achievement of competitive advantage of the industry. Other than the four main factors, the study also found that government support has played a significant role in the development of the RMG industry in Bangladesh. The government provided these supports through various policy initiatives, financial incentives, and the negotiation of favorable trade agreements including tariff and import-quota free access to the European Union under the Generalized System of Preference (GSP) scheme. The study also recognized that three chance events greatly influenced the development of the RMG industry of Bangladesh and positively affected growth in the sector: a quota system levied against traditional RMG exporters (e.g. South Korea, Hong Kong) in the 1970s; the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) that governed world trade in textiles and garments from 1974 to 1994 and provided beneficial access for Bangladeshi exporters; and compliance issues raised after the 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory catastrophe. The findings further highlight the importance of Porter’s double, multiple and rough diamond propositions in maintaining the continuous growth and development of the RMG industry in Bangladesh. It also briefly points out the potential impact of current COVID -19 pandemic on the RMG industry of Bangladesh. Finally, it proposes further research avenues to advance knowledge on competitiveness from different perspectives along with policy implications for the RMG sector of Bangladesh

Social Entrepreneurship by Community-Based Organizations: Innovations and Learning through Partnerships

This chapter examines the social entrepreneurship potentials of community-based organizations (CBOs) linked to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the implementation of development programs. The conceptual framework of the study draws on the existing literature on social entrepreneurship and cooperatives. The study highlights the social and ecological roles and significance of CBOs in the creation of social value at the local community level. The research findings reveal that NGO-CBO partnerships help to transform CBOs into social enterprises by creating revenue generation streams. Such partnerships also catalyze social innovations and social learning outcomes. In this chapter, three case studies from Bangladesh are examined, which demonstrate how the social entrepreneurial roles of these CBOs have been instrumental in the management of local natural resources and in fostering social learning. The case studies reveal that institutional support and favorable public policies are crucial in sustaining social entrepreneurship by CBOs

An Empirical Examination of the Relationship Between Information Technology Infastructure, Customer Focus and Business Advantages

During the past two decades, both academic researchers and business managers have attempted to understand the ways through which information technology (IT) can create business advantages. In this paper, we present a model that tests the relationship between IT infrastructure, customer focus, and business advantages. Customer Focus has been categorized into: customer responsiveness and product/service innovation. The data for the study were obtained from 116 executives from a number of business organizations. IT infrastructure is found to have significant effect on customer responsiveness, but does not show any significant relationship with product/service innovation. IT infrastructure, customer responsiveness, and product/service innovation are found to be significantly related business advantages