Macro-environmental Factors Research Articles

Non-transport household energy consumption in Adelaide and Melbourne

The residential sector is the third largest sector of final energy use in Australian urban areas, accounting for about 12% of the country's total final energy consumption. What are the main determinants of energy consumption in the residential sector? This paper sheds light on this question by examining non-transport summer household energy consumption in Adelaide and Melbourne. Data were collected from a survey of 200 sample households and modelled according to a conceptual framework that not only emphasises household characteristics and housing stock characteristics but also controls the macro-environment factors. The findings reveal distinctive results in Adelaide and Melbourne. In Adelaide, household characteristics are the most important contributors in explaining non-transport household energy consumption. In Melbourne, the household characteristic as represented by income is important, but housing stock characteristics provide even more explanatory power. These findings contribute to the understanding of the factors that shape residential energy consumption and have policy implications in targeting household energy savings.

An Embryonic Journey of Musical Entrepreneurship with “The Captain,” Jorma Kaukonen, and His Co-Pilot, Vanessa

The music business is a case study in how macro-environmental factors can radically transform an industry. Developments such as digital production and distribution, coupled with social media, crowdfunding, and changing consumer preferences, have dramatically transformed the business model for the recorded music industry in recent years and spurred the development of entrepreneurial business models to enable musicians to survive in their changing environment. As a solo artist and founding member of the musical groups Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Jorma (“The Captain”) Kaukonen has recorded albums for major labels such as RCA, Sony, and Columbia, as well as independent labels such as Relix and Red House Records. In this interview, Jorma and his wife and business manager, Vanessa Kaukonen, discuss their experiences as musical entrepreneurs in the digital age, including their founding of the unique Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp in the hills of Appalachia. The entrepreneurial business undertakings of the Kaukonens highlight the potential for entrepreneurial musicians to develop innovative and sustainable business models for surviving in this new world of music.

Barriers to effective climate change mitigation: the case of senior government and business decision makers

While the case for rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions is compelling, actions being taken by most senior decision makers (SDMs) in government and business compound the problem. Given the systemic reach of much senior decision making, including decisions that constrain their own actions, there is an urgent need to open up the SDM black box. Focused on Western governments and multinational corporations, this article examines a cross‐disciplinary range of literature to ask: What are the key factors affecting the preparedness of SDMs—particularly those who accept the climate science—to take the decisive actions needed to drive rapid and significant emission reductions? The review brings together multiple perspectives on the many compounding factors operating across three interconnected scales: micro (individual and interpersonal factors including disciplinary background, worldview, gender, and risk perceptions); meso (network, organizational and institutional factors including management paradigms, organizational culture, and institutional complexity); and macro (environmental, social, cultural, political, and economic factors including climatic extremes, vested interests, and public opinion). It concludes that SDMs are strongly focused on their ‘local’ professional context and near‐term pressures, including reputation among peers, relationships with competitors, and real‐time financial status. As a group they exist within a largely closed circuit and perceive the world from a particular narrow perspective. Combined with the complexity and embedded character of existing systems, this occludes more systemic or reflexive thinking or action. This deep propensity for inaction suggests that a coordinated multi‐frontal approach is essential for a new more effective mitigation approach. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:753–773. doi: 10.1002/wcc.305This article is categorized under: Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses

The Usage of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the Marketing Decision Making Process: A Case Study for Determining Supermarket Locations

The marketing decision support system is designed to help marketing managers in the analysis and decision making processes. The magnitude of a consumer market is measured by its economic, demographic and geographic dimensions. From this point of view, we focused on demographic and economic factors, which exist within macro environment factors in this study. The purpose of this paper is to point out the importance of consumption maps such as food, education, health expenses etc. which provide significant cues for investors and marketers especially in determining optimum locations. In this context, all data was integrated on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment. In addition, user interface programs were developed to perform easily several queries and analyses in ArcGIS 9.3 GIS Software. Afterwards, the data was queried, analyzed and documented by GIS. Finally, related consumption and optimum location maps for the marketing were produced. This study shows that GIS can play significant roles in both marketing planning and the decision making process. Consequently, new marketing strategies can be determined by means of recommendations resulted from this study in the city of Sivas and other cities.

The Effect of Economic Policies Applied in Turkey to the Sale of Automobiles: Multiple Regression and Neural Network Analysis

The main purpose of the present study is to reveal the effects of economic policies, as one of the macro environmental factors that affect the marketing, on the sale of automobiles. Eight different data sets, which include totally 72 months belonged to 2005-2010 years has been used. These data have analyzed by multiple regression and neural network method. The variables like as euro exchange, the vehicle loans rate presented by the banks and tax deduction made by the government for the automobile sector has affected the sale of automobiles; besides, the inflation rate, automobile and oil prices, income of the consumers and advertising expenditures of the businesses have no effects on the sales. In addition that multiple regression and nueral network analysis was compared with each other. Finally, neural network has better performance in the selling prediction than regression model. It is an original study that measures the effects of the macro environmental factors on the sales of automobile enterprises in Turkey.

Identifying macro-environmental critical success factors and key areas for improvement to promote public-private partnerships in infrastructure

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify macro-environmental critical success factors (CSFs) and key areas for improvement for public-private partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development, using Indonesia as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology includes the definition of CSFs based on the United Nations for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's self-assessment diagnostic tool and a survey on importance and performance attributes, the application of gap analysis (GA) and importance-performance analysis to prioritize areas needing urgent improvements, and the use of inter-rater agreement analysis to examine to what extent the ratings tend to converge on the same conclusions regarding importance and performance. Findings – Out of 40 possible success factors, a total of 16 are identified as CSFs in the context of Indonesia. GA suggests that no performance ratings exceed importance ratings for the identified CSFs, indicating the need for remedial actions. The factors requiring immediate improvements are all associated with commitments: to policy continuity, financial transparency, and corruption eradication. Practical implications – Although the paper discussing a specific country, the proposed approach is replicable and adaptable in different country contexts. Indonesia's experience can also be of value to governments facing similar problems in encouraging private investment in infrastructure. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on PPP in infrastructure development by focussing exclusively on macro-environmental CSFs and Indonesia's PPPs, which are both rarely discussed in the existing literature.

External environment of the economic potential of the enterprise

The dependence of forming, using and developing the economic potential of the enterprise on macro-environmental factors is studied. The appropriateness of assessing the favorability level of external environment, especially in dynamic market conditions is substantiated. The necessity to consider external factors when assessing the economic potential of the enterprise is proved, which will allow to determine “macro” causes of underuse of actual potential and untimely involvement of promising resources and development opportunities. A set of assessment indicators, which are grouped into five components: innovation, investment, personnel, financial and market factors is given. Herewith, the impact of each on the economic potential of the economic entity is described. Calculation of the overall favorability indicator of the external environment using the index method based on taxonomic assessment of its individual elements is proposed. Numerical and graphical results of the macro-environment evaluation for the period from 2002 to 2012 are presented, the analysis of the calculated indices is carried out. The results obtained will allow to more accurately determine the causes of underuse of the economic potential of the enterprise and form the general development directions of the economic entity in the future.

A macro-environment approach to civil aviation strategic planning

Air transport is considered a cyclical industry sensitive to the macro-environment in which it operates. As aviation policy makers and regulators strategically plan for their future, they need to consider the systematic and synergistic effects of common factors which comprise the operating environment of the industry׳s organisations. Thus, during the process of aviation systems planning governments should perceive the generic conditions which exist in the economy as a whole as equally important to air transport exclusive conditions. This paper highlights the significant impact of the national macro-environment factors on a country׳s air transport sector and it suggests including these elements within the context of civil aviation strategic planning. Country level data is collected on seventeen input variables versus four output variables on a sample of 52 countries. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used to identify the descriptors with significant impact on air transport output, namely: passenger traffic, aviation total contribution to GDP, aviation total contribution to employment and air connectivity levels. The identified significant drivers are found to create an enabling environment that determines the capacity of an economy and society to benefit from the air transport system׳s productivity. The results call upon aviation policy makers and regulators to assess the national macro-environment forces during the situation analysis part of the strategic planning process. The identified operating environment conditions act as a framework for providing clear policy orientations and for facilitating the identification of areas where policy intervention could improve air transport sector׳s performance. A well-defined aviation strategy allows aviation policy makers to identify and address nation wide strategic issues and provides aviation industry׳s stake holders with guidelines to help maintain and enhance their competitive position in both domestic and global markets.

Macro- and Micro-environmental Factors in Clinical Hepatocellular Cancer

We previously developed a network phenotyping strategy (NPS), a graph theory-based transformation of clinical practice data, for recognition of two primary subgroups of hepatocellular cancer (HCC), called S and L, which differed significantly in their tumor masses. In the current study, we have independently validated this result on 641 HCC patients from another continent. We identified the same HCC subgroups with mean tumor masses 9 cm x n (S) and 22 cm x n (L), P<10(-14). The means of survival distribution (not available previously) for this new cohort were also significantly different (S was 12 months, L was 7 months, P<10(-5)). We characterized nine unique reference patterns of interactions between tumor and clinical environment factors, identifying four subtypes for S and five subtypes for L phenotypes, respectively. In L phenotype, all reference patterns were portal vein thrombosis (PVT)-positive, all platelet/alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels were high, and all were chronic alcohol consumers. L had phenotype landmarks with worst survival. S phenotype interaction patterns were PVT-negative, with low platelet/AFP levels. We demonstrated that tumor-clinical environment interaction patterns explained how a given parameter level can have a different significance within a different overall context. Thus, baseline bilirubin is low in S1 and S4, but high in S2 and S3, yet all are S subtype patterns, with better prognosis than in L. Gender and age, representing macro-environmental factors, and bilirubin, prothrombin time, and AST levels representing micro-environmental factors, had a major impact on subtype characterization. Clinically important HCC phenotypes are therefore represented by complete parameter relationship patterns and cannot be replaced by individual parameter levels.

Conceptualizing a Path to Professional Wellness for Women Early Career Psychologists

The process of career adjustment for women early career psychologists (ECPs) has received inadequate empirical and theoretical attention. This article provides a conceptual framework and model for women ECPs career adjustment developed from an integrated review of existing literature. The model proposes that an individual ECPs social location, identity, and resources interact with three distinct spheres of influence (a) general new career adjustment issues, (b) unique women's concerns and (c) macro-environmental factors. Each of these distinct spheres, as well as the contributions of an ECPs unique identity are explored in detail. Finally, using a socialist feminist lens, suggestions for professional development and future research are presented.

Big data versus small data analysis towards personalized medicine practice

The new era in medical research and development, based on new approaches and advanced technologies, enabled profound insights, in various levels and degrees of sensitivity, on the human body physical and mental functioning. The identification of these micro and macro environmental factors created a real need for new analysis tools and translational models. The big created and harvested in health care, from the molecular to the physiological, imaging and environmental data, etc, created an inevitable growing need for sophisticated analysis tools. 10 years each individual will be surrounded by a virtual cloud of billions of data points—P4 medicine 1. More than that there is a need to provide a broad understanding on the all factors interplay, based on combining all relevant data sources and utilizing all available analysis tools. New technologies are developed to harvest, verify, control, transfer, align and transform data, as well as new innovative analysis and predictive targeted tools to meet these challenges, both in academia and industry. In parallel there is a growing need to new innovative and sophisticated tools to analyse That is to enable reliable and responsible preventive, predictive and personalized medicine, in most cases where there is more data than equivalent records. New philosophical approaches, as well as innovative analysis tools, specially developed to meet these challenges, must be taken, based on the coupling of computer sciences, complexity theory, non linear dynamics, logic theory, etc. That is in compliance and in parallel to the statistical models such as generalized linear models or classification trees that are further endowed by new regularization methods, as well as recent developments in FDR (False Discovery Rate) testing emphasizing the hierarchical structure. A targeted data mining tools will be presented to comply with the real need to deal with all interplay of all factors originated in different sources, such as: molecular, genetics, images, physiology, etc, presented in different scales. More than that the goal is to analyze small sets of data containing many parameters, including missing values. The presented patented rule discovery and prediction data mining tool, enables the simultaneous analysis of multilevel, multisource data (imaging, signals, categorical, numerical and descriptive data) as is, with no data manipulation, such as normalization, or neglecting part of the data. The goal is to relate to the whole data set as is, while handling missing data - which is one of the major needs in providing the “whole system” approach. The algorithm reveals the underlying rules while attaching a level of confidence to each rule, identifies the unexpected rules and detects the unexpected cases. Furthermore the tool was found to be less sensitive to over- fitting (small sets with many parameters). In summary the Data Mining and prediction tool is proven to reveal all If Than rules, all If than Not rules and a subset of If and Only If (necessary and sufficient conditions) tools, with no prior assumptions. Three detailed examples will be presented. The evaluation of the Epoetin adverse effects to assess long term risks and advancing towards better Epoetin driven treatment modalities, based on the survival analysis of dialysis patients and cardiovascular patients treated with EPO. The second example will deal with dementia and neurodegenerative combined data taken from the hospital practice (MCI, AD and normal patients) to evaluate and optimize the various treatments and provide accurate predictions. The third example deals with the analysis of the progression of disease in ALS patients based on the patient’s current disease status. The data mining tool was already successfully applied to other applications such as: autoimmune diseases, drug development, personalized skin treatment, skin genetic data and biomarkers analysis, etc.

Factors Affecting the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Jua Kali Sector In Nakuru Town, Kenya

Interest in the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development process continues to be in the forefront of policy debates in developing countries. The role of finance, management skills, macro-environment factors and infrastructure have been viewed as a critical element for the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the factors affecting the performance of SMEs in the Jua Kali sector in Nakuru town. The study adopted a survey research design and employed a stratified random simple sampling. Primary data was collected from 262 study respondents using structured questionnaires.The data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially and presented through figures, tables and percentages. The findings indicate that; that access to finance had the potential to positively affect performance of SMEs; management skills were found to positively and significantly affect performance of SMEs; macro environment factors were found to significantly affect performance and Infrastructure did not significantly affect performance of SMEs in the study area. The study results also indicated that as number of years in operations increased the performance increased. The study recommends that banks should improve access to finance through offering f better lending terms and conditions and collateral requirements; focus on acquiring appropriate management skills such as financial, marketing and entrepreneurial skills and effectively

Demand and Supply Planning in Retail Operations

The research represents a comprehensive study of retail operation. The paper elaborates a broad perspective of a demand and supply chain which interacts with macro and micro environmental factors and translates it into a customer requirement. The authors describe on different techniques and tools on demand and supply planning which leads to an optimized level of inventory, less cash outflow, higher product varieties and a greater customer satisfaction. Eventually fulfilling all these ensures increase in sales and profits to stakeholders; an ultimate objective of a firm. This paper demonstrates a holistic view on how a firm’s supply chain operates as a whole. In addition, this study also highlights some retail examples in the US as well as in Bangladesh which unlock further frontiers for the practitioners and prospective researchers to replenish their practices as well as expertise in the retail industry respectively.

The White Lion Volunteer Program in South Africa: A Study of Volunteer Needs

Volunteer tourists are motivated to participate in volunteer programs due to their need to ‘do something different’, ‘see another culture’ and ‘to escape’, amongst others. The research aims to determine the internal and external factors that motivate individuals to participate in the Tsau! Global White Lion Protection Trust’s (GWLPT) volunteer program. Maslow’s theory of human motivation and Frankl’s study of human behaviour are used to explore intrinsic factors whereas extrinsic or macro environmental factors of influence are also investigated. A mixed method approach with focus group discussions and an online survey is followed. A background to the volunteer program is presented with the activities available to volunteers. The key findings indicate that most volunteers are young females that volunteer for a minimum of two weeks; are internally motivated to ‘give back and be useful’ and ‘to work with the white lions’ for the purpose of self-actualisation. External motivation is mainly social in terms of concern about the well-being of the lions, and South Africa being an economically affordable destination. The GWLPT strives to fulfil the needs of volunteers, especially intrinsic needs associated with self-actualisation and self-transcendence.

The simultaneous systematic analysis approach for personalized management of cardiovascular diseases

AbstractThe simultaneous systematic analysis (SSA) approach, emanating from the novel achievements in science and technology, is targeted to provide a broad insight into the human body physical and mental functioning in various surroundings. Thus it paves the way to personalized, preventive and predictive medicine. The goal is to form an ongoing collaborative research and development platform focusing on the micro and macroenvironmental factors of the complex human functioning. This approach aims to build an open, innovative, systematic joint effort, combining and sharing all acquired knowledge and expertise among the leading professionals in all relevant areas of science and technology, while reducing technical, conceptual and formal barriers. The CHEST methodology (converging humanities, education, science and technology) will be utilized, as an innovative meeting point, enabling open and coherent discussions among all stakeholders from all relevant disciplines. The SSA approach is complementary and fully aligned with the partitioned research, creating a well-structured joint effort, ongoing R&amp;D sharing and borderless discussions among the academic research, government, regulatory agencies, industry, and the public. Bringing on board all stakeholders including young students, could provide innovative outcomes and new regulations adjusted to the new era. This review study focuses on the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) diagnosis and treatment case study, as CVDs accounts for about one third of human morbidity and mortality and is a main driver in the biomedical and drug industries. The American Heart Association (AHA) in its 2020 published health goals reflect a similar attitude and thus provides strong support to the SSA approach. It is the authors’ contention that applying the SSA approach could provide the essential comprehensive insight into individual complex functioning over time and place. Thus, it would enable responsible personalized, accessible healthcare and yielding major economical and sociological impact on society.

MICRO ENVIRONMENT FEELING – MAINTAINER AND REFLECTOR OF THE LATGALIANS’ SYSTEM OF VALUES

MICRO ENVIRONMENT FEELING – MAINTAINER AND REFLECTOR OF THE LATGALIANS’ SYSTEM OF VALUES

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Today, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Socio-Economic Systems exists in micro, meso and macro environments. A complicated process is required to find a rational solution that would include a large number of problems and criteria. Therefore, existing MCDM methods must be used as well as new ones developed. Notwithstanding SEA of Analysis of Socio-Economic Processes, there is little research examining factors of use of MCDM methods; thus, a more in-depth analysis should be undertaken. This study applied a systematic search of literature. A total of 73 papers from the academic literature containing such terms as ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)’, ‘Socio-Economic Processes (SEP)’, ‘Socio-Economic Systems (SES)’, ‘Social Systems (SS)’, ‘Economical Systems (ES)’, ‘Decision-Making (DM)’ and ‘Multi Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)’ were identified and reviewed. As to the eligibility problem in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), criteria included studies on both Social and Economic Systems &amp; Processes that examined development and trends related to SEA of Socio-Economic Processes. MCDM methods, assessment processes, data extraction and analysis were completed in all relevant studies. General activity fields in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Socio-Economic Systems were analysed. The key issues of SEA in micro, meso and macro environment, Socio-Economic Systems and Socio-Economic Processes factors were prominent across all researched categories. As far as the analysis of Socio-Economic Systems &amp; Processes, decision makers should be aware of the problem in its complexity and undertake multi-stage decision-making. To honour the contribution made by Prof Valentinas Podvezko contribution in the field of Decision-Making (DM) to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Socio-Economic Systems using MCDM methods, and to commemorate his 70th anniversary, this article also highlights his academic career and research.

Homenaje al Dr. Richard V. Lee (1937-2013)

Richard V Lee, MD, MACP, FRGS, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Adjunct Professor of Anthropology and Social and Preventive Medicine. Director, Division of Maternal & Adolescent Medicine, and Director, Division of Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA, passed away on May 7,2013. His academic degrees and university positions are a vivid testimony of his wide professional interests and capabilities. As a humanist and ecologist, he became involved in a broad range of medical and research activities in the Brazilian Amazon, the Chilean Southern Andes, the African deserts and highlands, India, the Himalayas, and China. His extensive bibliography on ecology, the health status of geographically isolated populations and the role of physicians on cultural and macro environmental factors, has been summarized in his posthumous book "Out of Bounds. Medicine and The Hundred Acre Wood", recently published by the Royal Society of Medicine, London. The Sociedad Médica de Santiago-Chilean Society of Internal Medicine and its journal Revista Médica de Chile are indebted to his enthusiastic contributions and advice.

An integrated model for analyzing the development of the 4G telecommunications market in Taiwan

Previous studies of development trends in the telecommunications industry have estimated market potential but have seldom integrated analyses of customer preferences and macro-environmental factors (political, economic, social, and technological analyses). In order to more accurately analyze 4G technological trends and market penetration and provide implications for businesses and policymakers, we use conjoint analysis to analyze customers' preferences for telecommunications technology and integrate the results with data from scenario analysis and the Delphi method to address possible scenarios for the development of 2G, 3G, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and long-term evolution (LTE) in Taiwan. We then use the innovation diffusion model to forecast the sales volume for these four technologies in Taiwan over the next 10 years. Finally, we provide suggestions for policymaking and strategic actions for 4G stakeholders.

A qualitative enquiry into the appropriation of mobile telephony at the bottom of the pyramid

Purpose – The paper aims to analyse bottom of the pyramid (BoP) customers’ (e.g. Bangladeshi farmers) use and appropriation of mobile telephony and to critically identify a suitable research strategy for such investigation. Design/methodology/approach – Concentrated ethnographic immersion was combined with both methodological and investigator triangulation during a four-month period of fieldwork conducted in Bangladeshi villages to obtain more robust findings. Concentrated immersion was required to achieve relatively speedier engagement owing to the difficulty in engaging with respondents on a long-term basis. Findings – The farmers’ use of mobile telephony went beyond the initial adoption, as they appropriated it through social and institutional support, inventive means and/or changes in their own lifestyle. The paper argues that technology appropriation, being a result of the mutual shaping of technology, human skills and abilities and macro-environmental factors, enables users to achieve desired outcom...