An Historical Review and Analysis of Colombian Guerrilla Movements: FARC, ELN and EPL

Colombian guerrilla movements have increasingly been associated with illicit activity and terror. This paper is divided into two main sections. The first section traces the roots of the FARC, ELN and EPL guerrilla movements and describes how traditional Marxist-style guerrilla groups became more associated with crime and kidnapping than political ideals. The second turns to the economics literature to explain the observed guerrilla behavior relating it to traditional guerrilla movements, organized crime and extortion.Guerrilla movements, illicit activity, organized crime

Effect of Arch Height on Dynamic Balance and Neuromuscular Control in Young Adults

The foot, functioning as a lever to support our body weight during movement, can present with structural differences like a smaller arch height resulting in pes planus or flat feet, or a higher arch height which is called pes cavus. Commonly, arch height develops with age, as infants are born with flat feet and, as they grow, their arches develop until the ages of 10-13 years. Dysfunction in the foot from abnormal arches has been shown to impact foot function and ankle stabilization, which can influence sports performance and injury risk. Dynamic balance is an important aspect of many different types of sports and can be an indicator of good performance. The purpose of this study is to inform clinicians and athletes of the effects of different arch heights on dynamic balance and muscle activation, so that correct interventions can be implemented to improve performance. This study looked at 15 healthy young adults between the ages 23- 25 years. We evaluated arch height index (AHI) by scanning the volume of their foot in a single leg stance of their dominant leg. Participants then performed three trials of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) to evaluate dynamic balance. A motion capture system was used to obtain reach distance, center of pressure sway on a force plate and muscle activation of muscles of the thigh and shank. This study aims to conclude how dynamic balance is impacted by arch height looking at correlations between arch height and each of the variables. Our results will demonstrate how different muscles might activate across different arch heights. Practitioners might then implement exercises to target specific muscles that are under or over utilized

NATIONAL, DEPARTMENTAL AND MUNICIPAL RURAL AGRICULTURAL LAND DISTRIBUTION IN COLOMBIA: ANALYZING THE WEB OF INEQUALITY, POVERTY AND VIOLENCE

Recent literature points to a relationship between inequality, economic growth and socio-economic variables. In order to continue to research the relationship between these factors and inequality in Colombia, it is essential to construct a precise measure of rural land distribution. This paper presents calculations of rural land size and land value Gini coefficients for Colombia at the national, departmental and municipal levels using approximately 2.5 million registries of plot level data supplied by the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi. In general, value Ginis, where value controls for land quality and improvements, are lower than plot size Ginis, and even after meticulous filtration anomalies remain in the data. Additionally, the relationship between the Gini coefficients and municipal level variables are analyzed to consider the relation between inequality, poverty, rurality and other municipal characteristics. Lastly, earlier results relating Gini to violence are reconsidered. After controlling for other factors, distribution does not explain significantly violence.Land Gini

In Defense of the Lecture: Revisiting and Reassessing Its Place within Management Pedagogy

Long the staple or go-to technique in management education, instruction via the lecture has fallen on hard times. Dismissed as professorially heavy-handed and lacking creativity, the lecture has yielded considerable ground to experiential, service, applied, and active learning techniques. In this essay, we question this shift away from the lecture toward the aforementioned trending instructional methods. In coming to the defense of the lecture, we explore the benefits afforded by the lecture for students and the professorate. Drawing on the maxim that what is old is new again, we contend that the lecture still deserves central billing in the management student experience. To do so not only enhances the occupational prestige of the faculty, but also enhances student learning and prepares students for career success in the professional management world. To close, we explore how the lecture format can best be preserved in management education and the modifications needed to realize its many benefits

Small Business E-Commerce Adoption througha Qualitative Lens: Theory and Observations

Using approaches consistent with the qualitative research tradition, the authors attempt to understand the motivation behind small business adoption and exploitation of e-commerce. A theoretically grounded model of e-commerce deployment by small businesses owners is presented, which can best be explained by two theoretical lines: an economic evolutionary perspective and a sociological institutional perspective. Further, our findings suggest a tie between owner characteristics, dispositions, traits, and the level of e-commerce integration achieved. We contend that understanding the drivers of e-commerce adoption, policy makers and other help agencies can tailor programs to assist firms with integrating and exploiting e-commerce in a cost effective manner

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF COLOMBIAN GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS

Colombian guerrilla movements have increasingly been associated with illicit activity and terror. This paper is divided into two main sections. The first traces the roots of the movements and describes how traditional Marxist-style guerrilla groups became more associated with crime and kidnapping than political ideals. The second turns to the economics literature to explain the observed guerrilla behavior relating it to traditional guerrilla movements, organized crime and extortion.Guerrilla movements, illicit activity, organized crime

AN EXTORTIONARY GUERILLA MOVEMENT

This paper develops a theoretical framework that formalizes a guerrilla movement's observed oil pipeline attack decision. The movement's decision is modeled as an infinite horizon Markov Decision Process, where each period it chooses to attack or not attack the pipeline. For extortionary behavior, each period the movement's decision wil depend on the level of single period payoff and discounted expected future payoffs. We estimate the model using the pipeline attack data and compare parameters when the discount factor is changed. The results suggest that can reject a zero discount factor hypothesis, demonstrating that the movement's observed attack behavior is compatible with extortionary behavior.Markov Decision Process, Guerrilla, Colombia

Rebuilding reliability: strategy and coaching in a high hazard industry

Abstract Purpose -In light of and due to the spike in concern regarding high hazard industries, in general, and nuclear power plants (NPPs) in particular, resulting from the Japanese earthquake and crisis at Fukushima, the purpose of this paper is to offer an innovative organizational development (OD) intervention that may enhance safety and operational performance directed at these critical organizations. Design/methodology/approach -Drawing on and integrating key elements of strategy, leadership coaching and development and assessment, the authors describe and detail an intervention designed to bring a troubled NPP to a state of reliability. Findings -It was found that performance improved in a relatively short amount of time from implementing this OD tool. Practical implications -The findings contained herein may apply to any organization aiming to improve on safety and operational performance. Originality/value -The paper's findings should appeal to high hazard and high reliability organizations, such as those found within the energy industry, that must continuously strive toward improved operational and safety performance

Surgical Training and Education in Promoting Professionalism: a comparative assessment of virtue-based leadership development in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residents

Introduction: Surgical Training and Education in Promoting Professionalism (STEPP) was developed in 2011 to train tomorrow's leaders during residency. It is based on virtue ethics and takes an approach similar to West Point military academy. The purpose of this research was: (i) to compare the virtue profiles of our residents with that of the military cohort using a standardized virtue assessment tool; and (ii) to assess the value of virtue education on residents. Methods: As part of STEPP, otolaryngology residents participated in a virtue-based validated assessment tool called Virtue in Action (VIA) Inventory. This was completed at the initiation of STEPP in July 2011 as well as 1 year later in June 2012. Comparison of the VIA to a military cohort was performed. Leadership ‘Basic Training’ is a series of forums focused on virtues of initiative, integrity, responsibility, self-discipline, and accountability. A pre- and post-test was administered assessing resident perceptions of the value of this ‘Basic Training’. Results: Virtues are shared between otolaryngology residents (n=9) and military personnel (n=2,433) as there were no significant differences in strength scores between two military comparison groups and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) residents. There was a significant improvement (p<0.001) in the understanding of components of the leadership vision and a significant improvement in the understanding of key leadership concepts based on ‘Basic Training’. All residents responded in the post-test that the STEPP program was valuable, up from 56%. Conclusions: A virtue-based approach is valued by residents as a part of leadership training during residency

Critique and Review of Leader-Member Exchange Theory: Issues of Agreement, Consensus, and Excellence

The relationship quality that develops between leaders and those designated as followers is of longstanding interest to researchers and practitioners. The purpose of the present article is to review the more recent developments in the field of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory to identify specific issues related to leader-member agreement and follower consensus that have potentially important theoretical and practical implications. We introduce the concept of LMX excellence, which involves high-quality LMX, high leader-member agreement as well as high group consensus in LMX quality. We outline how leaders and followers' behaviour as well as context can enhance or hinder the development of LMX excellence and conclude with an overview of the practical and theoretical implications as well as future research needs