Critical Management Practices Research Articles

Polyhydroxybutyrate Plastics Show Rapid Disintegration and More Straightforward Biogeochemical Impacts than Polyethylene under Marine Biofragmentation.

Although massive studies have investigated the spatiotemporally occurring marine plastisphere, a new microbial ecosystem colonizing the surfaces of plastics, the resulting biofragmentation process and impacts of plastics on biogeochemical cycles remain largely unknown. Here, we leverage synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared spectromicroscopy (FTIR mapping) and metagenomic sequencing to explore independent marine microcosms amended with petroleum-based polyethylene (PE) and biobased polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) plastic films. FTIR mapping results demonstrate unequal fragmentation scenarios by which the PE plastic rarely releases oxidized fragments while PHB disintegrates quickly, gradually forming fragments composed of extracellular polymeric substances resembling plastic films. Metagenomic analysis shows the critical role of hydrocarbonoclastic lineages in the biodegradation of the two plastics by the fatty acid degradation pathway, where the PE plastics host different microbial trajectories between the plastisphere (dominated by Alcanivorax) and surrounding seawater. In contrast, the PHB addition demonstrates decreased microbial richness and diversity, consistent community composition (dominated by Phaeobacter and Marinobacter), and apparently stimulated sulfur cycle and denitrification pathways in both the plastisphere and surrounding seawater. Our study gives scientific evidence on the marine biotic processes distinguishing petroleum- and biobased plastics, highlighting marine PHB input exerting straightforward impacts on the water phase and deserving critical management practices.

Chemical Site Preparation Mixtures, Application Timing, and Herbaceous Weed Control Impacts on Loblolly Pine Development Through Six Years

Abstract Chemical site preparation is a critical management practice for southern pine plantation establishment. Imazapyr and ester triclopyr are frequently used for chemical site preparation in the Lower Coastal Plain to control waxy leaf shrub species, yet limited information is available on optimal imazapyr and triclopyr tank mixes and individual herbicide application timing(s) to achieve maximum loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) growth. The objectives of this study were to determine the survival, growth, and stem defect response of 6-year-old loblolly pine to four chemical site preparation treatments plus an untreated control, three application timings, and first year herbaceous weed control (hwc) on a poorly drained flatwoods site. Treatments included two imazapyr and triclopyr rates applied as tank mixes, triclopyr and imazapyr alone, and an untreated control with hwc applied to half of each treatment plot. Results showed no treatment had superior survival or growth, whereas September-applied imazapyr and triclopyr tank mixes tended to result in improved growth. Triclopyr alone along with first year, banded hwc resulted in similar growth to imazapyr and triclopyr tank mixes. First-year hwc significantly enhanced survival and growth. Stem defects were more common in the chemical site preparation treatments than the control. Study Implications: Age-6-year results from this study indicate that loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) growth following application of chemical site preparation tank mixes containing imazapyr and triclopyr applied during September or October tended to be superior to July applications. Triclopyr applied alone with first growing season herbaceous weed control (hwc) may offer satisfactory near- and long-term loblolly pine growth as imazapyr and triclopyr tank mixtures on sites with similar competing vegetation. These findings may allow for less herbicide use on sites previously managed for pine production and show the importance of first year hwc for Coastal Plain flatwoods sites.

Factors in critical management practices for construction projects waste predictors to C&DW minimization and maximization

There has been a significant increase in the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) produced over the past few decades, posing challenges to the construction industry and endangering environmental and sustainable development. Therefore, the present study is conducted with an objective to determine the association among factors in critical management practices that contribute in waste maximization and minimization in construction projects. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The population of this study comprised of project managers, field engineers, consultants, civil engineers, working in the construction industry in Pakistan. The ‘confirmatory factor analysis’ (CFA) was applied to validate the measurement model, based on five latent factors and 27 observed variables for construction waste maximization (case study- I), and five latent factors and 28 observed variables for construction waste minimization (case study- II). The Cronbach's alpha value < 0.05 was set to determine the association among factors. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between each of the five parameters connected to construction waste maximization and minimization. The results of the study concluded that critical management practices such as contract management, materials logistics management, materials reuse, waste segregation, and onsite practices are strongly correlated with each other and are contributing factors in the minimizing the waste in the construction sites. The study is novel in terms of identifying the contributing factors in construction waste maximization and minimization, as well as determining the relationship among these factors. The study carries some important practical implications in terms of illustrating the two proposed models on factors influencing to construction waste minimization and maximization.

Effects of Communication On Quality Service Delivery in Mission Hospitals in Meru County, Kenya

Communication is one of the most critical management practices in an organization. It is argued that managers spend over 70 percent of their time communicating. This is because without effective communication, understanding is lost or compromised in the ‘noise’ and mess that is everyday work life. Communication is effective if done well downwards, upwards and sideways from seniors, subordinates and peers respectively and effective feedback given. The means or channels of communication should also be very clear and short to avoid long bureaucracies and excessive routes that compromise the quality of what is being communicated. The health sector in Kenya is highly regulated by both the Government and relevant professional bodies to ensure quality is maintained in training of medical caregivers and in dispensing services. Three major categories of healthcare service providers exist in Kenya – public, private and mission/faith-based organizations with variants in between. Meru County, one of the forty-seven counties in Kenya, is situated almost at the center of the country and has all these major categories of hospitals. Within the mission hospitals in Meru County, besides the government and professional bodies, close regulation is also practiced by faith-based organizations that sponsor the hospitals. The purpose of this study was to establish the nature and effect of communication in providing quality service delivery in the mission hospitals in Meru County, Kenya. The study was formulated as a survey to cover all the eight mission hospitals namely Nkubu, Chaaria, Kiirua, Maua, Mutuati, Tigania, Igoji and Gitoro. Piloting was done at Wamba mission hospital in Isiolo county to ensure validity of study tools. Descriptive study design was used. Major stakeholders in the hospitals were targeted as respondents including CEOs, Human resource and public relations officers and other staff as internal stakeholders while patients, suppliers and neighbours formed external stakeholders. A total of 128 were interviewed as a representative sample. A drop and pick method was used where questionnaires for each hospital were delivered and distributed to the potential respondents. Some respondents like patients and neighbours were assisted by researchers to fill in the questionnaires to avoid bothering them unnecessarily. Data was analyzed quantitatively using SPSS Version 23 and results described using descriptive statistics and presented in tables. The study found that communication had a significant positive affect on quality-of-service delivery (R=0.498, F=6.922, P=0.00) in mission hospitals.Effective communication and customer care was lauded as a critical consideration in dealing with clients and was emphasized among all levels of staff of mission hospitals to ensure sustainability of quality service delivery. The study recommended further analysis of private and public hospitals on the same parameters for comparison.

Linking Animal Welfare and Antibiotic Use in Pig Farming-A Review.

Simple SummaryMinimising stress in intensive pig farms is paramount to raising immunocompetent pigs. This entails providing the pigs with living conditions (from birth to the point of slaughter) free of pain, stress, and suffering and simultaneously providing conditions that generate positive affective states. Our review aims to study the relationship between chronic stress, illnesses, their impact on antibiotic use (AMU), and potential housing and management improvements to tackle stress and AMU. According to the literature, pigs kept in crowded, barren conditions, with poor microclimatic conditions, and subject to painful and stressful weaning practices present redirected behaviours, poor immune-competence, and weaker bodies. In turn, pigs are more vulnerable to circulating pathogens and severe secondary infections, which is conducive to high AMU for the sake of the animals’ health. Simultaneously, we compiled a list of possible solutions for the current poor environment and practices, including a call for the pig industry to broaden its concept of animal welfare beyond the current biological/productivist scope. We propose that advocating for an industry with enhanced animal welfare is a crucial response to the international call to combat antimicrobial resistance and the social demand for ethically sustainable animal production.Preventative measures, such as biosecurity and vaccinations, are essential but not sufficient to ensure high standards of health in pig production systems. Restrictive, barren housing and many widely used management practices that cause pain and stress predispose high-performance pigs reared in intensive systems to disease. In this context, antibiotics are used as part of the infrastructure that sustains health and high levels of production in pig farms. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global emergency affecting human and animal health, and the use of antibiotics (AMU) in intensive livestock farming is considered an important risk factor for the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria from animals to humans. Tackling the issue of AMR demands profound changes in AMU, e.g., reducing their use for prophylaxis and ending it for growth promotion. In support of such recommendations, we revise the link between animal welfare and AMU and argue that it is crucial to sustainably reduce AMU while ensuring that pigs can live happy lives. In support of such recommendations, we aimed to revise the link between animal welfare and AMU in pigs by analysing stress factors related to housing and management and their impact on pig welfare. In particular, we reviewed critical management practices that increase stress and, therefore, pigs’ susceptibility to disease and reduce the quality of life of pigs. We also reviewed some alternatives that can be adopted in pig farms to improve animal welfare and that go beyond the reduction in stress. By minimising environmental and management stressors, pigs can become more immunocompetent and prepared to overcome pathogenic challenges. This outcome can contribute to reducing AMU and the risk of AMR while simultaneously improving the quality of life of pigs and, ultimately, maintaining the pig industry’s social license.

Screening Cabbage Cultivars for Resistance to Black Rot under Field Conditions

The use of resistant cultivars against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is considered a critical management practice for black rot (BR) management in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). Although most studies that have evaluated resistance to BR were conducted in greenhouses without accounting for yield, there is a clear need to investigate cultivar performance under field conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate commercial cabbage cultivars for resistance to BR and determine yield and head quality under field conditions. Field experiments with eight cultivars (Acclaim, Bravo, Capture, Celebrate, Cheers, Melissa, Monterey, and TCA-549) were conducted in two cabbage growing seasons, Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. Fields were spray-inoculated with Xcc (3 × 105 cfu/mL) at 35 and 49 days after transplanting in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, respectively. Cabbage BR severity was evaluated at weekly intervals starting from 7 days postinoculation (DPI) until harvest. Marketable and unmarketable yields and cabbage head quality were measured at harvest. Cabbage BR symptoms were detected in all tested cultivars for both growing seasons with initial symptoms observed as early as 28 and 21 DPI in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, respectively. Severity of cabbage BR at harvest was significantly greater in Fall 2018 compared with Spring 2019, whereas marketable yield was significantly higher in Spring 2019 (45,169 lb/acre) compared with Fall 2018 (26,370 lb/acre). In both growing seasons, ‘TCA-549’ had the lowest severity of BR and ‘Melissa’ had the highest severity of BR. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was 175 and 13 for ‘TCA-549’ in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, respectively. The AUDPC for ‘Melissa’ in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 were 2376 and 905, respectively. Regardless of growing season, cabbage marketable yield was higher for ‘Acclaim’ (51,760 lb/acre) compared with all other cultivars; however, there was no significant difference between Acclaim and TCA-549 (42,934 lb/acre) for cabbage marketable yield. Cabbage marketable yield was the lowest for cultivars Melissa (18,275 lb/acre) and Capture (24,236 lb/acre). Overall, there was a significant correlation between BR disease severity and cabbage marketable and unmarketable yields. Increasing the BR severity decreased cabbage marketability due to an increase in unmarketable yields. Continued development of cultivar resistance to BR is important for cabbage production in the southeastern United States, given the favorable conditions for disease development. The use of cultivars with low susceptibility, pathogen-free seeds, crop rotation, and proper spraying programs should be considered the best management practice for BR disease.

Human resource management in public-private partnership organisations: A review

The proliferating phenomenon of public-private partnership (PPP) in public service provision continues to lay a firm foundation for the growth of organizations of hybrid character (van Gestel, Denis, &amp; Ferlie, 2020). Unfortunately, the effects of such organizational arrangements on critical management practices remain underexplored (Berman, 2012). Analytically focusing on purpose-based taxonomy of practices including hiring, training, compensation, and employment relations (Chuang, Chen, &amp; Chuang, 2013), this paper theoretically explores the possible implications of the PPP modality on human resource management (HRM) practice at the organizational level. Thirteen (13) critical propositions are delineated from interpretively intersecting extant knowledge from PPP and HRM strands of literature. In essence, the analysis suggests a) the high dependence of HRM practice and decision-making on the structural and institutional context, b) the necessity for more agility, characterized by adaptability and dynamism, and c) the need for a changed management competence profile of practitioners focusing on strategic and integrative skills sets in a PPP organization context. The paper advances the propositions as important insights for practitioners and as potent directions for further research.

Effects of fertilizer and irrigation management on nitrous oxide emission from cotton fields in an extremely arid region of northwestern China

Nitrogen application as synthetic fertilizer and/or animal manure and method of irrigation are critical management practices affecting crop production and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission in irrigated agriculture systems. A field experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to compare the effects of conventional urea (Urea), animal manure (Manure) and a 50/50 mix of urea and manure (U + M) on N2O emission from flood- or drip-irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on a sandy soil in arid region of northwestern China. Results showed that Manure increased cumulative N2O emission (ƩN2O), applied available N-scaled emission factor (EF) and yield-scaled emission intensity (EI) by 30–188% compared with Urea and U + M, under both irrigation methods. The ƩN2O and EF were not affected by irrigation method in 2015, but were 18–25% greater in the drip- than flood- irrigation in 2016. Cotton yield and N uptake were generally increased by fertilizer or manure additions compared to the unfertilized control, but there were no significant differences between the three fertilized treatments. The overall N2O emission and EF at the study site ranged between 72–506 g N2O-N ha−1 and 0.04-0.15%, respectively, being generally lower than those of other climate zones, probably due to the low available soil moisture and low soil organic carbon which restricted N2O production. Greater N2O emission with manure application was mainly attributed to the increased rates of nitrification and denitrification through the manure’s increased supply of carbon for associated microbes. These results suggest a potential risk of manure application to increase N2O emission for irrigated crop production in soils with low soil organic matter and under dry climate. Further studies are needed for understanding of the linkage between manure-induced N2O emission and activities of associated microbes.

Biomass Yield of Warm‐Season Grasses Affected by Nitrogen and Harvest Management

Core Ideas Dry matter yields increased with N inputs although efficiency decreased.Applying nitrogen at 67 kg N ha–1 was superior in both yield and efficiency.Delaying the time of harvest until late fall or a killing frost increased yield. Native perennial warm‐season grasses (NPWSG) have drawn interest as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high productivity with minimal amounts of inputs under a wide range of environments. Nitrogen fertility and harvest timing are critical management practices when optimizing biomass yield of NPWSG. Our objective was to quantify the impact of N fertilizer rate and timing in combination with harvest timing and frequency on NPWSG yield. Research was conducted in 2014 and 2015 on four field‐plot locations in Missouri. The experiment was a split‐plot design with three replications where N rate and harvest timing were the main and sub‐plot treatments, respectively. Nitrogen rates were 0, 34, 67, and 101 kg N ha−1 with two application timings, all early spring and split N (early spring and following first harvest). Harvest timing included two single (September and November) and two double harvests (June followed by September or November) per year. Delaying harvest until November increased yield across sites. November harvest and N rates ≥67 kg ha−1 improved NPWSG biomass yields. Although N fertilization improved yield, partial factor productivity (PFP) of applied N did not increase with annual N rates &gt;34 kg ha−1. Fertilization at 67 kg ha−1 yr−1 provides an opportunity to maintain a balance between yield and N efficiency. These results demonstrated that N fertilization and harvest management of NPWSG were not always independent, and therefore these practices should be simultaneously considered. For example, early‐season harvesting suppressed response to N when the second harvest was not delayed until after frost.

Effect of soil fertility and maturity stages at harvest on maize yield under rain-fed conditions

ABSTRACTUnderstanding critical management practices during seed development would help to improved crop production as climate patterns change. This study focused on the interactive effect of soil fertility with harvesting stages, on hybrid maize yield under two different agro-ecological locations during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 summer seasons in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2015/2016 season was drier than that of 2014/2015. The field trials were split plots design, where varying fertility levels (main plot) and harvesting stages (sub plots) were replicated four times. The interaction was determined by variables of plant growth, physiology and yield parameters. The plant growth and physiological parameters measured were significantly influenced (P < 0.001) by the interaction of fertility levels across days after planting and silking. The interactions of soil fertility levels with harvesting stages had significant effects (P < 0.05) on all yield components during the wetter 2014/2015 season, as well as on seed yield, harvest index, thousand seed weight and total biomass in the drier 2015/2016 season. Optimal fertilization improved maize yield at each stage of harvesting. This study showed that harvesting stress-free optimally-fertilized maize at dent stage maximized yield potential than allowing it to reach physiological maturity under stressful conditions.

Grain Sorghum Water Use Efficiency and Yield Are Impacted by Tillage Management Systems, Stubble Height, and Crop Rotation

Core Ideas Tillage, stubble management, and crop rotation are important management decisions for maximizing productivity and profitability in semi‐arid environments. Under poor rainfall distribution conditions of sandy loam, most positive effects of tillage‐stubble management were partially moderated by a significant rotation × tillage‐stubble interaction. Under above‐average rainfall conditions of clay loam, yield characteristics were influenced by neither rotation nor tillage‐stubble management. Conservation tillage combined with stubble management resulted in greater WUE than conventional tillage with no residue management at one out of two locations. Successful crop production in semiarid environments of the Southern High Plains depends on critical management practices such as tillage, stubble management, and crop rotation that maximize the use efficiency of limited resources. An experiment was conducted at two locations in 2010, after the first year of rainfed crop rotation (continuous grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] or cowpea [Vigna unquiculata (L.) Walp.]–sorghum), tillage (conventional, strip‐till, or no‐till) and stubble height (short and tall in strip‐ or no‐till) had been imposed, to evaluate the effects of these management factors on early growth, yield characteristics, and water use efficiency of grain sorghum. Based on the results, the influence of tillage‐stubble management on yield and water use characteristics varied with soil type and seasonal rainfall pattern. Under poor rainfall distribution conditions of Tucumcari sandy loam, the most positive effects of tillage‐stubble management were partially moderated by a significant rotation × tillage‐stubble interaction. Under above‐average rainfall conditions at the Clovis site, which has clay loam soils, yield characteristics were influenced by neither rotation nor tillage‐stubble management. However, at Clovis, conservation tillage (no‐till and strip‐till) in combination with stubble management (short and tall) resulted in greater WUE than conventional tillage with no residue management (P &lt; 0.05). A long‐term study is needed to make recommendations on the adoption of suitable conservation tillage and stubble management strategies in this region; however, the results of this work are encouraging and indicate potential benefits of conservation tillage and stubble management in semiarid environments.

Critical management practices influencing on-site waste minimization in construction projects

As a result of increasing recognition of effective site management as the strategic approach for achieving the required performance in construction projects, this study seeks to identify the key site management practices that are requisite for construction waste minimization. A mixed methods approach, involving field study and survey research were used as means of data collection. After confirmation of construct validity and reliability of scale, data analysis was carried out through a combination of Kruskal-Wallis test, descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis.The study suggests that site management functions could significantly reduce waste generation through strict adherence to project drawings, and by ensuring fewer or no design changes during construction process. Provision of waste skips for specific materials and maximisation of on-site reuse of materials are also found to be among the key factors for engendering waste minimization. The result of factor analysis suggests four factors underlying on-site waste management practices with 96.093% of total variance. These measures include contractual provisions for waste minimization, waste segregation, maximisation of materials reuse and effective logistic management. Strategies through which each of the underlying measures could be achieved are further discussed in the paper. Findings of this study would assist construction site managers and other site operatives in reducing waste generated by construction activities.

Assessing quality of management practices in Palestinian hospitals

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an assessment of the quality of management practices and implementation in hospitals operating in the West Bank of Palestine using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Criteria. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the MBNQA Criteria, a survey of 51 hospitals was conducted using questionnaires, interviews and focus groups to gather data. Data were analyzed and compared across all administrative types of hospitals using the MBNQA points system. Findings – The results show that the performance of non-governmental organizations and private hospitals was superior with respect to all other administrative types. A closer look at the results show that all hospitals exhibit areas of concern such as human resource focus, information and analysis, as well as performance results. Research limitations/implications – Despite the exclusion of hospitals operating in the Gaza Strip, this research promotes critical management practices aimed at improving quality of management practices and their subsequent implementation in the surveyed hospitals. Practical implications – The MBNQA Criteria, as well as other quality assessment tools, can be used to measure the various activities of hospitals and identify competencies and weaknesses in a tangible manner to improve hospital performance. Originality/value – This paper presents a fresh perspective on the quality management issues in Palestinian hospitals to practitioners, administrators and academics using the MBNQA Criteria. Also, it serves as a foundation for future initiatives and programs aimed at improving quality in hospitals.

Land tenancy, soybean, actors and transformations in the pampas: A district balance

In Argentina, the recent expansion of agriculture has turned into an extreme process almost completely dominated by soybean. The magnitude and speed of soybean expansion are believed to be the main drivers behind social, organizational and economic changes, including the displacement of small-scale producers out of agriculture. Under these transformations, land leasing is a critical management practice and constitutes a link among agricultural actors. This study analyzes changes in land tenancy patterns considering the recent agriculturization process but also older drivers of change. Our results indicate that the expansion of agriculture affects small- and large-scale farms differently, as land renting practices and productive orientation show clear differences by size. In the land leasing market, local producers are the main tenants while sowing pools rent about one quarter of the leased land. The competition for leasing farmland appears to operate within farm sizes. Small- and medium-scale producers compete among them for land, while large-scale local producers compete with sowing pools for the larger plots. Sowing pools do not appear to be the main drivers of land tenancy changes as they are no more relevant than local actors in the land leasing market. However, results suggest that small-scale landowners renting out their land for several years are the ones with higher probabilities of selling their lands. This segment of producers appears to be the one most negatively affected by soybeanization.

Contractor management performance evaluation model at prequalification stage

The client’s choice of contractor at the project prequalification stage is critical as the selected contractor is responsible for the overall coordination of a project. Although a wide variety of criteria have been employed to develop models for contractor selection, one critical component of their capability – management performance – has historically been among the least addressed but, we argue, most critical elements in a useful selection model. Even in the cases when management performance is considered, it has typically focused only on objective outcome criteria of limited predictive power, such as contractor time and cost performance. This paper reports on the results of a study to develop a comprehensive contractor evaluation model that directly addresses the contractor management capabilities and practices as a critical additional element at the prequalification stage. Using a multi-step research process, including extensive literature review, analysis and synthesis of critical contractor management performance factors, development of an analytic network project (ANP) model, and subsequent case study and field validation, we identified a robust model that enhances the decision support tools for the client organization by creating databases for comparing multiple contractors with respect to management practices. In addition, the evaluation of this prequalification criterion permits the contractors to focus on their efforts to address the critical management practices to improve their project performance.

Quality management practices and their relationship to organizational performance

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of total quality management (TQM) practices implemented in Palestinian hospitals and their relationship to organizational performance using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria.Design/methodology/approach– A survey of 51 hospitals operating in the West Bank of Palestine was conducted in order to test the validity and reliability of TQM constructs and their relationship to organizational performance.Findings– The results showed that TQM constructs used in this study are positively related to hospital performance and for the most part the relationship was significant; they were capable of explaining a significant portion of variance in performance. Three elements were found to be strongly significant predictors of performance- people management, process management, and information and analysis.Research limitations/implications– Although hospitals operating in the Gaza Strip were excluded from the study, this research promotes critical management practices that help channeling organization resources into areas aimed at improving quality and performance.Practical implications– The study showed that there are certain areas where administrators or managers need to focus on should they aspire for better performance. The constructs used in this study can be used to assess the implementation of quality practices and highlight areas for movement.Originality/value– This paper provided practitioners, administrators, and academics with a fresh perspective on quality management practices and their impact on organizational performance. It also served as a foundation for future initiatives and programs aimed at improving quality in hospitals.

Cooperative Struggle: Re-framing Intercultural Conflict in the Management of Sino-American Joint Ventures

Sino-American economic joint ventures are most often studied through a lens of technical rationality that typically emphasizes organizational efficiency, reduces culture to a manageable resource, and views conflict as discrete disruptions requiring efficient handling. Here, we conceptualize Sino-American business partnerships as sites of struggle where co-managers' accounts of intercultural disagreements reveal friction around action, voice, interests, and identity. We propose cooperative struggle as a critical management practice for working creatively with the multiple forms of difference that arise in this organizational form.

The Effect of Different Concentration of Glyphosate on the Growth of Coconut Seedlings

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) is one of the predominant plantation crops in Sri Lankan economy which is known to have existed for over thousands of years. During the past decades coconut production had been reduced by a significant quantity. The usage of poor quality planting materials is a major reason for the low coconut production. Thus much attention needs to be paid in coconut nurseries. Weed management is a critical management practice in the nursery. Though glyphosate application is becoming popular in nurseries it can affect weeds as well as coconut seedlings growth. Therefore the effects of glyphosate were evaluated by determining the growth of shoot and root of coconut seedlings. Poly bag nursery was prepared and three treatments were used. Treatments were no glyphosate and manual weeding (T1), application of glyphosate 1.08 ai kg ha-1 at 2 monthly interval (T2) and application of glyphosate 1.44 ai kg ha-1 at 2 monthly interval (T3). Application of glyphosate at early stage of seedling growth had a no significant effect on growth parameters tested. However, the concentrations of glyphosate negatively affected numbers, volumes and dry weights of secondary, tertiary and quaternary roots at the latter stage of seedling growth. The leaf area and the height of seedling were significantly reduced by the highest concentration of glyphosate. Among the growth parameters tested, seedling girth and shoot dry weight were not affected by the application of glyphosate. These results revealed that the usage of glyphosate at both concentrations negatively affected root growth of coconut seedlings. Based on these results, the both concentration levels of glyphosate should be applied to coconut nurseries before sprouting the seed nuts.

Spatial variability of soil total and DTPA-extractable cadmium caused by long-term application of phosphate fertilizers, crop rotation, and soil characteristics

Increasing cadmium (Cd) accumulation in agricultural soils is undesirable due to its hazardous influences on human health. Thus, having more information on spatial variability of Cd and factors effective to increase its content on the cultivated soils is very important. Phosphate fertilizers are main contamination source of cadmium (Cd) in cultivated soils. Also, crop rotation is a critical management practice which can alter soil Cd content. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of long-term consumption of the phosphate fertilizers, crop rotations, and soil characteristics on spatial variability of two soil Cd species (i.e., total and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable) in agricultural soils. The study was conducted in wheat farms of Khuzestan Province, Iran. Long-term (27-year period (1980 to 2006)) data including the rate and the type of phosphate fertilizers application, the respective area, and the rotation type of different regions were used. Afterwards, soil Cd content (total or DTPA extractable) and its spatial variability in study area (400,000 ha) were determined by sampling from soils of 255 fields. The results showed that the consumption rate of di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer have been varied enormously in the period study. The application rate of phosphorus fertilizers was very high in some subregions with have extensive agricultural activities (more than 95 kg/ha). The average and maximum contents of total Cd in the study region were obtained as 1.47 and 2.19 mg/kg and DTPA-extractable Cd as 0.084 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively. The spatial variability of Cd indicated that total and DTPA-extractable Cd contents were over 0.8 and 0.1 mg/kg in 95 and 25 % of samples, respectively. The spherical model enjoys the best fitting and lowest error rate to appraise the Cd content. Comparing the phosphate fertilizer consumption rate with spatial variability of the soil cadmium (both total and DTPA extractable) revealed the high correlation between the consumption rate of P fertilizers and soil Cd content. Rotation type was likely the main effective factor on variations of the soil DTPA-extractable Cd contents in some parts (eastern part of study region) and could explain some Cd variation. Total Cd concentrations had significant correlation with the total neutralizing value (p < 0.01), available P (p < 0.01), cation exchange capacity (p < 0.05), and organic carbon (p < 0.05) variables. The DTPA-extractable Cd had significant correlation with OC (p < 0.01), pH, and clay content (p < 0.05). Therefore, consumption rate of the phosphate fertilizers and crop rotation are important factors on solubility and hence spatial variability of Cd content in agricultural soils.

Determinants of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): A Proposed Framework for Malaysian Public Listed Companies

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has become an important subject of increasing interest among businesses and industries throughout the world. Along the same note, ERM is considered a critical management practice for companies to mitigate risks effectively. The main objective of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for determinants of companies in Malaysia that implement ERM. From the review of various literatures available in this particular area of interest, several factors are found to be the main determinants of companies that implement ERM. Such factors are the presence of chief risk officer, leverage, profitability, international diversification, majority shareholder, size and turnover.