Organizational Dynamics and Adoption of Innovations: A Study within the Context of Software Firms in Sri Lanka

This paper examines the effect of organizational dynamics on innovation focus using the residual dominant and emergent theoretical framework (RDE) and the empirical evidence of four case studies. The findings revealed that different types of innovation coexist, but one type becomes dominant over other types at a certain time as the innovation focus is changed in line with the strategic priorities of firms. We found that innovation focus takes the form of product, process, and organizational innovation pattern over time when the firms move from an entrepreneurial organization to a more formal business corporation. More importantly, the RDE framework provides an appropriate lens for practitioners, in identifying the enablers and barriers of innovation

Entrepreneurial opportunities recognition in Sub-Saharan Africa: a proposed model for investigation

Earlier studies have predominantly investigated entrepreneurial opportunities recognition from either the discovery or creation perspectives in the developed economies of America and Europe respectively. These efforts have mostly generated contradictory theories or models, which are not suitable for universal investigation of entrepreneurial opportunities. This paper uses the principles of metatheory to integrate the two dominant theories of entrepreneurial opportunities to propose a Multiple Opportunities Recognition Universal Framework (MORUF), then used it to study entrepreneurial opportunities recognition process within an entirely new context of Sub-Saharan Africa. Qualitative data collected from 38 nascent entrepreneurs in Nigeria were used to test the model. Findings reveal that opportunity exists in more than one form, can transit from one state to another and be recognised either through the discovery or creation process. This paper offers an alternative framework to study multiple entrepreneurial opportunities and provides practical relevance for doing so, for practitioners

Current status and checklist of seagrass in Sri Lanka

This work provides the revised and updated checklist of the seagrass in Sri Lanka based on primary and secondary information. It is indeed to be an update the list of Seagrass species in Sri Lanka prepared by Abeywickrama and Arulgnanam (1991), which now been nearly three decades back. More than forty (40) published pieces of literature, herbarium sheets in the National Herbarium and author's personal observations since 2011 were reviewed. Sri Lanka belongs to the Indo-Paciï¬c bioregion and 15 species have been recorded so far representing seven genera.  They are Enhalus acoroides, Halophila beccarii, H. decipiens, H. ovalis, H. major, H. minor, H. ovata, H. stipulacea, Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata, C. serrulata, Halodule uninervis, H. pinifolia, Ruppia maritima, and Syringodium isoetifolium with the estimated extend to be 37,137 ha. Halophila beccarii considered as a rare species, and has only been recorded in patchily distributed with few localities in Sri Lanka. Lack of evidences to cross check the identification of H. minor (only recorded in Negombo Lagoon) and H. ovata is a main drawback. The composition and distribution of seagrasses along the coastal zone of Sri Lanka is yet to be established. Therefore, island wide comprehensive and genetic studies could be positively contributed to fulfil the data gaps in future

A first record of Halodule pinifolia Miki den Hartog, and new locality of nationally endangered Halophila beccarii Asch, from the eastern coast of Sri Lanka

This study presents the first record of Halodule pinifolia on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, approximately 310 km along the coastline from the previously recorded location (Kapparathota, Weligama). Further, this study describes the new locality of the nationally endangered seagrass species Halophila beccarii to Valaichchenai Lagoon, 26.5 km north of Batticaloa Lagoon, where it was previously recorded, along with the presence of two other species, Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis. While the species composition the seagrass habitat of Valaichchenai Lagoon might change in the near future due to the impact of climate change, multiple threats already exist at these newly discovered seagrass habitats, including multiday fishing vessel movements, the collection of shells on the seagrass beds, and solid waste dumping into the lagoon. Decline of seagrass abundance in Valaichchenai Lagoon would negatively impact the food security and income generation of fishers. Therefore, a well-established legislative framework and systematic long-term monitoring of seagrass in Valaichchenai Lagoon are essential in order to develop seagrass conservation plans before populations decline significantly or become locally extinct

<b>First record of the Woolly-necked Stork <I>Ciconia episcopus</I> Boddaert, 1783 (Aves: Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae) breeding in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka</b>

The Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus is a resident bird species commonly found breeding in the dry lowlands of Sri Lanka, preferably nesting in remote areas with minimal disturbance, although the breeding and nesting behavior has not yet been adequately documented.  Here we report its nesting behavior, for the first time in lowland wet zone Sri Lanka, from Thalagolla, Beddawela in Kegalle District.  Although its usual breeding season is in the dry zone from February to March with a second breeding cycle from November to early January, here we report breeding in the lowland wet zone from July–October in 2013–2014.  Further, it was interesting to note presumably the same couple of birds used the same nest in 2014 with minimum renovation.  In 2015 the nest had disintegrated and fallen due to continuous heavy rain and there have been no records till June 2016.  Breeding was again recorded from June–September in 2016 with a new nest in a different platform of twigs in the same tree.  </div

Application of Blockchain Technology in Energy Trading

Proliferation of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) is an important step towards sustainable transformation of energy sector ensuring access to affordable & clean energy and taking action to mitigate climate change. Studies report well designed Peer-to-Peer(P2P) energy trading models which benefit both energy consumers and prosumers are a new way of encouraging the use of these RESs and EVs. However, these local energy trading models can have trust, privacy and information security challenges which can hinder their adoption. Against this backdrop, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising technology which is capable of enabling P2P energy trading while addressing most of these issues. This paper presents the state of art of blockchain technology in the area of energy trading of the RESs and EV charging. Initially, this paper presents the current transformation of the electricity sector and how that relates to the sustainability and conservation of environment. Then it surveys the blockchain based energy trading models used in RE trading and EV charging by categorising them according to the type of blockchain (based on data privacy level requirement) and the consensus mechanism used. Finally, the challenges that needs to be addressed to facilitate widespread use of blockchain in energy trading are identified and hence some future research directions to pursue are proposed

Spatiotemporal Variation of Urban Heat Islands for Implementing Nature-Based Solutions: A Case Study of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

Changes in the urban landscape resulting from rapid urbanisation and climate change have the potential to increase land surface temperature (LST) and the incidence of the urban heat island (UHI). An increase in urban heat directly affects urban livelihoods and systems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variation of the UHI in the Kurunegala urban area (KUA) of North-Western Province, Sri Lanka. The KUA is one of the most intensively developing economic and administrative capitals in Sri Lanka with an urban system that is facing climate vulnerabilities and challenges of extreme heat conditions. We examined the UHI formation for the period 1996&ndash;2019 and its impact on the urban-systems by exploring nature-based solutions (NBS). This study used annual median temperatures based on Landsat data from 1996 to 2019 using the Google Earth Engine (GEE). Various geospatial approaches, including spectral index-based land use/cover mapping (1996, 2009 and 2019), urban-rural gradient zones, UHI profile, statistics and grid-based analysis, were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the mean LST increased by 5.5 &deg;C between 1996 and 2019 mainly associated with the expansion pattern of impervious surfaces. The mean LST had a positive correlation with impervious surfaces and a negative correlation with the green spaces in all the three time-points. Impacts due to climate change, including positive temperature and negative rainfall anomalies, contributed to the increase in LST. The study recommends interactively applying NBS to addressing the UHI impacts with effective mitigation and adaptation measures for urban sustainability

Local Ecological Knowledge Reveals Change in Seagrass Social&ndash;Ecological Systems

It is widely recognized that humanity is currently facing multiple planetary crises, including the widespread loss of biodiversity and a rapidly changing climate. The impacts of these crises are often far reaching and threaten food security (SDG goal two: zero hunger). Small-scale fisheries are estimated to provide livelihoods for over one hundred million people and sustenance for approximately one billion people but face a plethora of threats and challenges linked to planetary crises. In this multi-country assessment (150 coastal villages across five countries within the Indo-Pacific), household interviews revealed how seagrass meadows are important to small-scale fisheries, particularly as a place to find and collect a reliable source of food. Interviews also revealed that habitat loss and the over-exploitation of these resources are placing people and their food security at risk. This study exposed how dynamic local ecological knowledge can be, uncovering personal opinions and responsibilities that result in the hybridization of knowledge. Here, we demonstrate the importance of using local ecological knowledge to incorporate shared values into management but also highlight that an integrated approach, pairing local and conventional scientific knowledge, is needed urgently if we are to meet the needs of people while simultaneously conserving biodiversity

Local Ecological Knowledge Reveals Change in Seagrass Social–Ecological Systems

It is widely recognized that humanity is currently facing multiple planetary crises, including the widespread loss of biodiversity and a rapidly changing climate. The impacts of these crises are often far reaching and threaten food security (SDG goal two: zero hunger). Small-scale fisheries are estimated to provide livelihoods for over one hundred million people and sustenance for approximately one billion people but face a plethora of threats and challenges linked to planetary crises. In this multi-country assessment (150 coastal villages across five countries within the Indo-Pacific), household interviews revealed how seagrass meadows are important to small-scale fisheries, particularly as a place to find and collect a reliable source of food. Interviews also revealed that habitat loss and the over-exploitation of these resources are placing people and their food security at risk. This study exposed how dynamic local ecological knowledge can be, uncovering personal opinions and responsibilities that result in the hybridization of knowledge. Here, we demonstrate the importance of using local ecological knowledge to incorporate shared values into management but also highlight that an integrated approach, pairing local and conventional scientific knowledge, is needed urgently if we are to meet the needs of people while simultaneously conserving biodiversity

Dependence on seagrass fisheries governed by household income and adaptive capacity

Seagrass meadows, like other tropical coastal ecosystems, are highly productive and sustain millions of people worldwide. However, the factors that govern the use of seagrass as a fishing habitat over other habitats are largely unknown, especially at the household scale. Using socioeconomic factors from 147 villages across four countries within the Indo-Pacific, we examined the drivers of household dependence on seagrass. We revealed that seagrass was the most common habitat used for fishing across villages in all the countries studied, being preferred over other habitats for reliability. Using structural equation modelling, we exposed how household income and adaptive capacity appears to govern dependence on seagrass. Poorer households were less likely to own motorboats and dependent on seagrass as they were unable to fish elsewhere, whereas wealthier households were more likely to invest in certain fishing gears that incentivised them to use seagrass habitats due to high rewards and low effort requirements. Our findings accentuate the complexity of seagrass social-ecological systems and the need for empirical household scale data for effective management. Safeguarding seagrass is vital to ensure that vulnerable households have equitable and equal access to the resource, addressing ocean recovery and ensuring sustainable coastal communities