Cultural intelligence and managerial relational performance: a resource advantage perspective

Purpose – Since managerial rationality is often bounded; managers use their cognitive capabilities and social interaction to manage their operational cultural and environmental differences. Drawing on the resource-advantage theory, we theorize that import manager’s cultural intelligence (CQ) is an intangible but valuable human capital capable of diminishing the effect of their foreign counterpart’s psychic distance and ultimately, their relational performance. Design/methodology/approach – Our measure of CQ in this study comprises metacognitive and motivational CQs to examine the relations between metacognitive and motivational CQs on psychic distance and its ultimate effect on relational performance. Survey data collected from 228 Nigerian automobile import managers were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the relationship among the study variables. Findings – Our study revealed that metacognitive CQ reduces the effect of psychic distance in the exchange relationship. Moreover, in the presence of a low-level psychic distance, relational performance increases. This finding confirms the intervening role of CQ on performance relationship. The study offers insights into the under-researched area of CQ in international business research. It highlights the role of CQ and its influence on psychic distance in the success or failure of relational exchanges in the international market. Originality/value – We present the concept of CQ as human capital that has the potential to improve managerial relational performance. We go further to advance the potential significance and relevance of CQ in improving international buyer-seller exchanges

Assessing the Predictors of the Content and Pedagogical Knowledge of Fitness Instructors in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Fitness centers require professional instructors to ensure members obtain the safest and most effective exercise classes. Certification and licensure enable fitness instructors to demonstrate a strong desire to be knowledgeable and committed to expand their capabilities and offer more diverse services to their clientele. This study therefore sought to determine whether fitness instructors in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana had the needed professional competence required to be effective as instructors. A descriptive correlational research design was used for the study. A total of 18 instructors were purposively selected from an accessible population of 45. A researcher designed appraisal questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. Three hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed no significant relationship existed between highest academic qualification (HAQ) (‘r’ = .427, p = .077), area of study (AoS) (‘r’ = -.385, p = .115, as well as years of experience (YoE) and level of knowledge (‘r’ = .192, p = .444) all 2-tailed. It was concluded that academic qualification, area of study and years of experience did significantly relate with the level of knowledge suggesting that the instructors’ lack of   training, certification and licensure culminated into their low levels of current knowledge in fitness instruction. It was recommended that the National Association for all Sports, Ghana and other stakeholders should develop a national plan for the training, certification and licensure of Fitness Instructors in Ghana. Keywords: fitness instructor, pedagogical knowledge, training, certification

Selecting Suitable Sites for Wind Energy Development in Ghana

Recent energy crisis in Ghana has led to an intense search for an alternate energy solution. Currently the country is relying on fossil fuel for electricity generation. About 43% of energy generated in the country is from fossil fuel thermal energy. In the event of shortages in petroleum products, these power plants will have to shut down or run on a low capacity resulting in load shedding routines. In order to explore an alternate energy source, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a study to assess Ghana’s wind energy potential. Some areas across the country were found to have enough wind resource for power generation. However, sites for wind farms are not wind speed dependent only; other underlying factors also play an important role in the site selection process. The objectives of this research work are to identify these factors and integrate them in the site selection process within a GIS environment. The site selection was based on two major kinds of criteria setting; the constraints and factor criteria. Layers of these criteria setting were combined using the overlay function in a GIS environment. Weights were also assigned to the factor criteria layers using pairwise comparisons. Suitable sites were selected in five regions after incorporating the various criteria. A total of 142 isolated sites were selected after incorporating a number of factors and constraints. The optimal arrangement of the turbines for the Oforikrom site was also designed. This research recommends that the existing land use and ownership of the selected sites should be ascertained. Wind speed measuring masts should also be erected at the various sites to determine the economic viability of setting up a commercial wind farm. Keywords: Wind Energy, Wind Farm, GIS, Criteri

Foreign patents surge and technology spillovers in China (1985-2009): evidence from the patent and trade markets

The paper investigates the determinants of foreign patent surge and the effects of technology spillovers in China based on an industry-level sample of 19 countries and regions from 1985 to 2009. We explore two hypotheses to explain the increasing foreign propensity to patent and the effects of technology spillovers in China, the market covering hypotheses and competitive threat hypotheses. The results show strong support for the competitive threat hypothesis. However, the foreign patenting surge in China does not mean China has more access to outsource advanced technology; on the contrary the technology spillover from foreign countries in China is limited. The paper investigates the determinants of foreign patent surge and the effects of technology spillovers in China based on an industry-level sample of 19 countries and regions from 1985 to 2009. We explore two hypotheses to explain the increasing foreign propensity to patent and the effects of technology spillovers in China, the market covering hypotheses and competitive threat hypotheses. The results show strong support for the competitive threat hypothesis. However, the foreign patenting surge in China does not mean China has more access to outsource advanced technology; on the contrary the technology spillover from foreign countries in China is limited

Boundary Applicability of the Ghana’s Oil Block Fiscal Regimes

AbstractAttractiveness of fiscal regime has become more important in oil and gas investment decision than the rather geological prospectivity of the province. The terms and conditions contained in the fiscal system influence the investor’s evaluation of project. As Ghana determines to benefit greatly from the exploitation of the oil and gas resources, a robust fiscal system attractive in all economical and technical conditions needs to be designed. Ghana has recently become one of the frontiers in the oil and gas industry following its commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons in Deepwater Tano-Cape Three Point, the Jubilee field. Ghana’s oil industry is very young and some of the basins are under exploration surveillances waiting for commercial discoveries. Ghana’s Jubilee field uses various terms and conditions in her fiscal arrangement to govern the upstream operations. For continuous realisation of economic benefits to the State as well as the contractor, it is important the applicability of Ghana’s fiscal regime at varying boundary conditions of oil price and field reserves are evaluated. Discounted cash flow economic model which considers the major uncertainties was developed to evaluate the economic implications of the Jubilee field fiscal regime. Different price scenarios and varying field sizes were taken through rigorous sensitivity analysis. It was determined that for all field sizes considered at oil prices above $40/bbl, contractor’s NPVs are positive. The project take statistics are averagely around 64$40/bbl where the State’s take statistic is above 80% and contractor’s take below 20%. The State receives Additional Oil Entitlement(AOE) only when the oil price is above $40/bbl and the AOE increases steadily with the oil price for all the various field sizes. In general, the Jubilee field fiscal regime is fairly attractive and flexible and ensures stable shares of economic rents between the State and the contractor as the profitability of the field increases. Keywords: Reserves, Fiscal Regime, Cash Flow, Take Statistics, Net Present Valu

Fungal-Transformation of Surrogate Sulphides and Carbonaceous Matter in Refractory Gold Ores: Revisited

In the recovery of gold from refractory gold ores, pretreatment is required to decompose sulphides and liberate occluded gold before cyanidation, and to deactivate carbonaceous matter and prevent it from adsorbing dissolved gold. Until the past three decades, most commercial pretreatment processes had been by abiotic means. Biological pretreatment methods on commercial basis is therefore a recent phenomenon, and several researches are underway to assess the ability of different biological agents in the breakdown of sulphur and carbonaceous matter (CM) in gold ores. This paper, which is a revisit of an earlier one, presents an overview of on-going research aimed at assessing the capability of the fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, to degrade sulphides and CM. Surrogate carbonaceous materials (lignite, bituminous and anthracite coals) and pure sulphides (pyrite and arsenopyrite) were used to model the behavior of CM and sulphides in refractory gold ores. To monitor the extent of biotransformation, preg-robbing test was conducted on the as-received and treated CM, and sulphide sulphur in the residual sulphidic materials was also determined. From an initial preg-robbing effect of 125 µg of gold per gram of CM, the ability of CM to preg-rob gold reduced by 70-95% in the order of lignite<bituminous <anthracite within 21 days of treatment, whereas there were 18% and 39% oxidation of sulphide sulphur in pyrite and arsenopyrite respectively. XRD examination of the treated anthracite confirmed reduction in the graphitic structure of carbon following fungal transformation. Similarly, there was a decline in the major sulphide peak after microbial pretreatment. The results indicate that the fungus biotransforms through destruction of the ordered structure, followed by introduction of oxygen groups. The amorphous nature, thus generated, inhibits the uptake of aurocyanide ions by CM, while enhancing the affinity of cyanide for the oxidised sulphide material in subsequent cyanidation treatment. The findings contribute to knowledge on novel and technically viable alternative methods for oxidative pretreatment of refractory gold ores. Keywords: Phanerochaete Chrysosporium, Carbonaceous Matter, Metal Sulphides, Biotransformatio

Free Zones as the engine of economic growth in Africa

Copyright The Author(s) 2020. Free Zones, also known as commercial free zones, are small fenced-in, duty-free areas, offering warehousing, storage, and distributions facilities for trade transhipment, and re-export operations located in most ports of entry around the world. Recently, Free Zones have attracted academic debates in international business circles because they are perceived as agents of industrialization and socioeconomic developments in developing countries. This article features an interview with Michael Okyere Baafi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Free Zone Authority (GFZA). The salient issues discussed in the interview include: exports promotion, eradication of corruption, leadership challenges, politics, sustainability, job creation and new investment opportunities

Bouncing Back from Bankruptcy: Narratives of Entrepreneurial Antifragility

Drawing on antifragility as a lens, we explore UK-based entrepreneurs’ accounts of their behaviours and choices to theorise how they managed to bounce back from bankruptcy to restart their new firms. Our findings suggest that antifragility as an entrepreneurial competence enables once bankrupted business owners to identify potentialities and limits of restarting and managing a new venture in ways otherwise overlooked by others. In this way, we illuminate how antifragility as an organising capability could be harnessed by developing a process model that highlights the core stages of entrepreneurial recovery post-bankruptcy.

The Airbus bribery scandal: A collective myopia perspective

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Drawing on collective myopia as a lens, we explore the infamous Airbus bribery scandal to show how the executives of the global aircraft manufacturer, through their actions and behaviours, institutionalised the payment of bribes to secure contracts. Data for the inquiry consist of publicly available court-approved documents, company website and internal emails, and newspaper articles on the scandal. Unpacking the bribery scheme operated by Airbus, we found that bribing of foreign government officials and airline executives to secure contracts was part and parcel of the firm's organising strategy. In this regard, the organising practices of Airbus actively encouraged employees to break its own bribery compliance policies which they employed as smokescreens to cover their illegal activities. Building on our findings, we developed a collective myopic-bribery framework outlining how the collective myopia in organising drove the bribery activities at Airbus. The implications of the findings for theory and practice are outlined