Poverty Alleviation through Partnerships: A Road Less Travelled for Business, Governments & Entrepreneurs

While investigating the role of business and accepting that profitable partnerships are the primary solution for poverty alleviation, we voice certain concerns that we hope will extend the authors’ discourse in Alleviating Poverty through Profitable Partnerships. We present a model that we believe can serve as an effective framework for addressing these issues. We then establish the imperative of inclusive growth. Here, we engage with the necessity of formulating strategies that focus on the pace and, importantly, the pattern of economic growth, including its social and cultural dimensions. We also deliberate on the parameters of inclusive growth with the overriding objective of ensuring that multiple strata of society share the benefits of globalization. Turning to the critical role of institutions in promoting social welfare, we explore the impact of government policy vis-à-vis the leverage enjoyed by other social institutions. Despite the reality that state and private interests often operate at cross purposes, we argue that government must still be an integral part of the solution matrix. With direction from other social institutions, entrepreneurial forces can be unleashed to tackle endemic poverty prevalent in the base of the pyramid. We then provide an in-depth case study in which the availability of telecommunications in rural areas was utilized as a means to foster development and ensure inclusive growth. The conclusion examines lessons learned while operationalizing the model, and spells out the impact of our enablers at ground level

Of Fair Markets and Distributive Justice

The authors argue that a free market paradigm facilitates wealth creation but does little to distribute that wealth in a just manner. In order to achieve the social goal of distributive justice, the concept of a fair market is introduced and explored. The authors then examine three drivers that can help improve the lives of all people, especially the poor: civil society, its institutions, and business. After exploring the roles these drivers might play in developing fair markets, we describe three enablers that serve as catalysts for change: the effects of globalization, the impact of technology, and the emergence of entrepreneurial activity. We conclude by making recommendations for establishing fair markets and provide exemplars of two firms that embody the arguments made in the article

Building a Culture of Academic Integrity [VanSandt]

I teach Business Policy and Strategy (the final required course in the business curriculum), and Business, Ethics, and Society (an upper level elective). Both courses naturally lend themselves to student discussion, and because that is my preferred style of teaching I do all I can to encourage it. In addition, integrity is a topic that is not only logical, but also essential to each course. We incorporate discussion about both academic integrity and virtue in one’s career, and how they relate

CHARACTERIZATION, ENRICHMENT, AND IN VITRO CULTURE OF SPERMATOGONIAL STEM CELLS IN THE DOMESTIC CAT: A MODEL FOR RARE AND ENDANGERED FELIDS

Spermatogenesis is a highly prolific process in which millions of spermatozoa are produced daily. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), the adult stem cell population of the testis, sustain this process by providing a constant source of new progenitor cells. The ability of this stem cell population to self-renew makes it a promising alternative to spermatozoa for genetic preservation of rare and endangered animals. While innovative advances in SSC technologies have been made in the mouse, there is a paucity of information concerning felid SSCs. Therefore, the overall objective of the dissertation was to develop SSC technology in the domestic cat (Felis catus) as a model for rare and endangered felids. In the first study, mRNA transcripts for six SSC marker genes (THY1, GPR125, GFRalpha1, PLZF, UCHL1, and OCT4) were identified in cat testes. Localization within the appropriate in situ niche was confirmed by immunohistochemistry for three of the markers (PLZF, UCHL1, and OCT4). The expression pattern of these markers was conserved in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), validating the cat as an appropriate felid model. In Study 2, we explored two techniques to enrich cat testis cells for SSCs. We found that the efficiency of enrichment depends on age of the donor and that prepubertal testes are the preferred source for differential plating. Magnetic-activated cell sorting did not achieve any level of enrichment for cat SSCs, likely due to unsuitability of the antibody. The final study modified the traditional mouse SSC culture system for use in the cat. A clear effect of feeder cell type was demonstrated, with mouse endothelial C166 cells supporting a significantly higher number of germ cell colonies as compared to STO cells or primary cat fetal fibroblasts. Identity of germ cell colonies was confirmed by co-expression of UCHL1, PLZF, and OCT4. During subculture, colonies maintained SSC marker co-expression and displayed alkaline phosphatase activity. At the time of writing, cells had been maintained for 78 days in vitro. Together, these studies provide the groundwork towards application of SSC technology in management of rare and endangered felid populations

Enhancing Academic Integrity and Facing Academic Dishonesty Afternoon Plenary Session & Wrap-Up

A core classroom value for many college and university instructors is academic integrity and honesty. Instructors often employ a range of strategies to strengthen academic integrity and limit academic dishonesty in their individual courses. By bringing together panelists from a variety of disciplines and professional experiences, who teach a range of courses in diverse formats, levels, and sizes, this panel aims to generate a discussion about how to support a culture of academic integrity. We will address these issues based on how we think about academic integrity and dishonesty, our discipline or course specific concerns, our physical and institutional environments, and our experiences with students and other members of our communities. Ultimately, it is worth noting that cultivating academic integrity within each individual classroom is but one dimension of strengthening and sustaining a broader culture of integrity in the academic communities of which we are a part. In keeping with the spirit of strengthening a broader culture of integrity, this session will include opportunity for discussion and synthesis with the audience

Effectiveness of GonaCon as an immunocontraceptive in colony-housed cats

Objectives Non-surgical contraceptive management of free-roaming cat populations is a global goal for public health and humane reasons. The objectives of this study were to measure the duration of contraception following a single intramuscular injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based vaccine (GonaCon) and to confirm its safe use in female cats living in colony conditions. Methods GonaCon (0.5 ml/cat) was administered intramuscularly to 20 intact female cats (queens), and saline was administered to 10 queens serving as sham-treated controls. Beginning in late February, 4 months after injection, all cats were housed with fertile male cats in a simulated colony environment. Time to pregnancy, fetal counts and vaccine-elicited injection-site reactions were evaluated. Results All control cats (n = 10/10) and 60% (n = 12/20) of vaccinated cats became pregnant within 4 months of the introduction of males. Two additional vaccinates became pregnant (70%; n = 14/20) within 1 year of treatment. Average fetal counts were significantly lower in vaccinated cats than in control cats. Vaccinates had a significantly longer (P = 0.0120) median time to conception (212 days) compared with controls (127.5 days). Injection-site reactions ranging from swelling to transient granulomatous masses were observed in 45% (n = 9/20) of vaccinated cats. Conclusions and relevance A single dose of GonaCon provided contraception lasting for a minimum of 1 year in 30% (n = 6/20) of treated cats. The level of contraception induced by this GonaCon dose and vaccine lot was not sufficiently effective to be recommended for use in free-roaming cats

Effectiveness of GonaCon as an immunocontraceptive in colony-housed cats

Objectives Non-surgical contraceptive management of free-roaming cat populations is a global goal for public health and humane reasons. The objectives of this study were to measure the duration of contraception following a single intramuscular injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based vaccine (GonaCon) and to confirm its safe use in female cats living in colony conditions. Methods GonaCon (0.5 ml/cat) was administered intramuscularly to 20 intact female cats (queens), and saline was administered to 10 queens serving as sham-treated controls. Beginning in late February, 4 months after injection, all cats were housed with fertile male cats in a simulated colony environment. Time to pregnancy, fetal counts and vaccine-elicited injection-site reactions were evaluated. Results All control cats (n = 10/10) and 60% (n = 12/20) of vaccinated cats became pregnant within 4 months of the introduction of males. Two additional vaccinates became pregnant (70%; n = 14/20) within 1 year of treatment. Average fetal counts were significantly lower in vaccinated cats than in control cats. Vaccinates had a significantly longer (P = 0.0120) median time to conception (212 days) compared with controls (127.5 days). Injection-site reactions ranging from swelling to transient granulomatous masses were observed in 45% (n = 9/20) of vaccinated cats. Conclusions and relevance A single dose of GonaCon provided contraception lasting for a minimum of 1 year in 30% (n = 6/20) of treated cats. The level of contraception induced by this GonaCon dose and vaccine lot was not sufficiently effective to be recommended for use in free-roaming cats

The Role of Individual Variables, Organizational Variables and Moral Intensity Dimensions in Libyan Management Accountants’ Ethical Decision Making

This study investigates the association of a broad set of variables with the ethical decision making of management accountants in Libya. Adopting a cross-sectional methodology, a questionnaire including four different ethical scenarios was used to gather data from 229 participants. For each scenario, ethical decision making was examined in terms of the recognition, judgment and intention stages of Rest’s model. A significant relationship was found between ethical recognition and ethical judgment and also between ethical judgment and ethical intention, but ethical recognition did not significantly predict ethical intention—thus providing support for Rest’s model. Organizational variables, age and educational level yielded few significant results. The lack of significance for codes of ethics might reflect their relative lack of development in Libya, in which case Libyan companies should pay attention to their content and how they are supported, especially in the light of the under-development of the accounting profession in Libya. Few significant results were also found for gender, but where they were found, males showed more ethical characteristics than females. This unusual result reinforces the dangers of gender stereotyping in business. Personal moral philosophy and moral intensity dimensions were generally found to be significant predictors of the three stages of ethical decision making studied. One implication of this is to give more attention to ethics in accounting education, making the connections between accounting practice and (in Libya) Islam. Overall, this study not only adds to the available empirical evidence on factors affecting ethical decision making, notably examining three stages of Rest’s model, but also offers rare insights into the ethical views of practising management accountants and provides a benchmark for future studies of ethical decision making in Muslim majority countries and other parts of the developing world

Social innovations in outsourcing: An empirical investigation of impact sourcing companies in India

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Journal of Strategic Information Systems and the definitive published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2015.09.002Impact sourcing – the practice of bringing digitally-enabled outsourcing jobs to marginalized individuals – is an important emerging social innovation in the outsourcing industry. The impact sourcing model of delivering Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT–BPO) services not only seeks to deliver business value for clients, but is also driven by an explicit social mission to help marginalized communities enjoy the benefits of globalization. This dual focus has led to the ambitious claim that social value creation can be integral to (and not always by-products of) innovative IT–BPO models. Given the relative newness of the impact sourcing business model there is scarce research about how impact sourcing companies emerge and the process through which entrepreneurs build and operate such companies. This paper draws on a qualitative study of seven Indian impact sourcing companies and develops a process model of the individual-level motivational triggers of impact sourcing entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial actions underpinning different phases of venture creation and the positive institutional-level influences on impact sourcing. The paper argues that since deeply personalized values are central to the creation and development of impact sourcing companies, the business model may not be easy to replicate. The analysis highlights an intensive period of embedding and robust alliances with local partners as crucial for the scalability and sustainability of the impact sourcing business model. It also emphasizes the role of ‘social’ encoding and mimicry in determining the extent to which impact sourcing companies are able to retain their commitment to marginalized communities