The Effect of Strategic Flexibility on Strategy-Performance Nexus: A Conceptual Model

Many of the business strategies adopted by organizations fail as a result of inflexibility of such strategies in responding to market dynamics. Although there is a considerable number of research to indicate that the strategic clarity has a strong positive association with firm performance, there remains little theoretical and empirical evidence to explain the effect of strategic flexibility on firm performance. Hence, this concept paper draws on the Porter’s typology and the Miles and Snow’s typology to analyze how the strategic flexibility moderates the association between strategic clarity and firm performance. The paper concludes with a conceptual model that enables the testing of the discrete effect of strategic flexibility on firm performance which in turn will add insights to the said models in the study.</p

Developing an economic, environmental and agronomic case for the increased use of organic amendments in South Asia

Aggressive fertilizer subsidies throughout South Asia have led to a rapid increase in the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers such as urea at the farm level. While this has been successful in increasing yields, significant yield gaps remain between potential and actual farm yields, while unbalanced or over application of fertilizers potentially damages soil and environmental health. This project examined organic amendment (OA) application in India and Sri Lanka on productivity, soil properties and greenhouse gas emissions. In India, poultry, farm-yard manure and vermi-compost were applied to a paddy rice crop, and the potential benefits followed through to a post-rice chickpea crop. In Sri Lanka, we tested the optimal combination of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer rates when using municipal-waste compost in a multi-year maize-soybean rotation. Results at both trial sites saw an increase in crop yields under OA application; in particular chickpea yields from farm-yard manure and after repeated application of municipal-waste compost. However, all OA treatments increased emissions of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane due to additional nitrogen or carbon availability. Furthermore, the low nutrient content and relatively high cost of the OA’s, particularly the composts, made them uneconomical as nutrient sources compared to conventional fertilizers

Understanding seed dormancy and germination aids conservation of rainforest species from tropical montane cloud forest: a case study confirming morphophysiological dormancy in the genus Tasmannia

Context: Seed dormancy is one issue hindering implementation of conservation actions for rainforest species. Aims: We studied dormancy and germination in Tasmannia sp. Mt Bellenden Ker and Tasmannia membranea, two tropical montane rainforest species threatened by climate change, to develop a better understanding of dormancy in the species and the genus. Methods: Dormancy was classified for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker on the basis of an imbibition test, analysis of embryo to seed length (E:S) ratios and germination in response to the following four dormancy-breaking treatments: (I) scarification of the seedcoat near the micropylar end; (2) removal of the seedcoat; (3) application of 100 mg L(-1)or (4) 500 mg L-1 gibberellic acid. The most effective treatment was then tested on T. membranea. The requirement for light for germination was also assessed. Key results: Both scarified and intact seeds imbibed water. Initial E:S ratios were <0.22 for both species and increased up to 0.74 after 40 days, just before radicle emergence, for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker. Germination proportions were significantly higher in Treatments 1 and 2 than the remaining treatments for T. sp. Mt Bellenden Ker; T. membranea responded similarly well to Treatment 1. Germination under alternating light/dark conditions was slightly, but not significantly, greater than germination in the dark alone. Conclusions: Both species have morphophysiological dormancy and treatments that remove seedcoat resistance to embryo growth facilitate germination. These treatments may improve germination in other species from the genus Tasmannia. Implications: This knowledge will aid the germination of seeds to implement conservation strategies for Tasmannia spp

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE PRESENCE OF-HEAVY METALS IN AQUATIC PLANTS FROM A FRESHWATER WETLAND AT KELANIYA

Aquatic plants are known for uptake of heavy metals from water and sediments. Thisvery feature qualifies these plants as wastewater treatment agents. Capacity to absorb,heavy metals however, varies among plants. Three aquatic plants, Pistia stratiotes(floating), Limnocharis jlava (rooted) and Ipomoea aqualica (rooted plant with floatingrunners) from lriyawetiya wetland at Kelaniya were tested for the presence of copper,zinc, lead, nickel, cadmium, manganese, tin and chromium in the plant tissues.P. stratiotes, L. jlava and 1. aquatica plants were collected from the inlets, outlets and themiddle part of the wetland and above heavy metal concentrations in acid-digested rootand shoot samples were measured separately using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Tin (Sn) is the heavy metal that was found in relatively large quantities in all threeplants, and Ipomoea aquatica recorded the highest content of Sn. Next highestoccurrence was observed with Cr and the contents were highest in the rooted plant, L.jlava, indicating that the sediment loads of Cr may be greater than the load in the watercolumn. All other heavy metals occur in relatively low concentrations in all three plantspecies, indicating partly the lower loading rates of these heavy metals in Iriyawetiyawetland.Occurrence of heavy metals in the roots was generally higher than that of the shoots.Greater Cr concentrations were recorded from roots of floating species, P. stratiotes andI. aquatica than the rooted species, L. flava.Except for cadmium (in P. slratioles) and manganese (in L. flava and 1. aquaticay;content of all the other heavy metals that occur in the plants that have been collectedfrom the inlets was greater than that of those collected from the outlet, indicating thewetlands' capacity to remove heavy metals from water and sediment through plantuptake.

Eco-geographic survey of wild species of Vigna in Sri Lanka

The ceo-geographic survey of plant genetic resources is essential for effective in situ and ex situconservation of plant genetic resources. Results of eco-geographic survey could be used to predictnew areas for survey and to assist in the formulation of collection and conservation priorities. An ecogeographicsurvey was conducted in Sri Lanka during August 2005 to February 2006 in some protectedareas and other target areas of Sri Lanka to locate wild species of Vigna, map their localities, identifythreatened areas and find out suitable locations for in-situ conservation.Habitats and taxonomic characteristics data were recorded. Locations of wild spices of Vigna werenoted by using Global Positioning System (GPS). The distribution of six wild species of Vigna occurringin Sri Lanka is depicted in the maps. GPS data were analyzed by Flora map distribution modelling andprobable localities of Vigna wild species were mapped. Six species of Vigna recorded by the surveyare distributed from 0 MSL to 1630 m MSL. However, V stipulacea, V trilobata and V aridicolawere found only lower latitudes (0 to 130 m MSL) and V dalzilliana and V trinervia are limited tohigher elevation (790m to 1630m MSL). Vigna radiata var. sublobata was found only in one locationDambana in Badulla district. V stipulacea, and V trilobata are mostly found near sea shore and Varidicola is found in inland dry areas. Difference in leaf shape of V trilobata is observed in differentpopulations. The probable areas that were identified using flora map modelling are located in Puttalam,Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Kurunagala and Batticola districts. Surveys in these areas are needed toidentify new populations ofwild Vigna species.

Weak charge form factor and radius of 208Pb through parity violation in electron scattering

We use distorted wave electron scattering calculations to extract the weak charge form factor F_W(q), the weak charge radius R_W, and the point neutron radius R_n, of 208Pb from the PREX parity violating asymmetry measurement. The form factor is the Fourier transform of the weak charge density at the average momentum transfer q=0.475 fm$^{-1}$. We find F_W(q) =0.204 \pm 0.028 (exp) \pm 0.001 (model). We use the Helm model to infer the weak radius from F_W(q). We find R_W= 5.826 \pm 0.181 (exp) \pm 0.027 (model) fm. Here the exp error includes PREX statistical and systematic errors, while the model error describes the uncertainty in R_W from uncertainties in the surface thickness \sigma of the weak charge density. The weak radius is larger than the charge radius, implying a "weak charge skin" where the surface region is relatively enriched in weak charges compared to (electromagnetic) charges. We extract the point neutron radius R_n=5.751 \pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005 (strange) fm$, from R_W. Here there is only a very small error (strange) from possible strange quark contributions. We find R_n to be slightly smaller than R_W because of the nucleon's size. Finally, we find a neutron skin thickness of R_n-R_p=0.302\pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005 (strange) fm, where R_p is the point proton radius.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, published in Phys Rev. C. Only one change in this version: we have added one author, also to metadat

SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND WET AGGREGATE STABILITY IN TSUNAMI AFFECTED SOILS IN HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT, SOUTHERN SRI LANKA

Seawater intrusion occurred due the recent tsunami disaster badly affected onagricultural lands causing failure in crop production. Apart from elevatingsalinity level, addition of sodium ion with sea water creates dispersion of soilparticles, destroying it's aggregates or the structure, prompting immediateneed of rehabilitating the affected lands in order to sustain the productivity.Therefore the objective of the present study was to assess the impact oftsunami on Soil Organic Matter (SOM) and wet aggregate stability of theaffected soils in Hambantota district.Random soil samples were drawn from top 15cm soil depth, two weeks aftertsunami and analysed for SOM, wet aggregate stability (measured as MeanWeight Diameter or MWD) and aggregate distribution. Soil samples takenfrom a nearest unaffected field on the same soil type were used as thereference to compare the affected and unaffected soils.The average SOM contents of 0.27% and 1.06% respectively for the tsunamiaffectedsoils and the reference unaffected soil revealed a greater reduction ofSOM as a consequence of seawater intrusion. It could be explained theresults that removal of SOM by means of soil erosion and/or deposition oflarge amounts of sand dunes. According to the results, the highest MWD wasobserved from unaffected soil, while the lowest values found in affectedsoils. Furthermore, it can be seen a positive correlation between SOM andwet aggregate stability indicating an urgent need to improve soil managementpractices that increase SOM levels, and as a result, increase the soil aggregatestability in order to ensure sustained crop production in affected soils inHambantota district.