Strategic Ambitions Research Articles

Changing contours of India’s Ocean strategy, 2004–2015

ABSTRACTIn the recent period, India has emerged as one of the key political and economic players at the global level. In order to make its mark as a major maritime power, it has adopted an ambitious plan of naval modernisation. This brings to the fore the question how successive governments in India have sought to promote the country’s interests. In the recent years, India under the UPA rule played an assertive role in the Indian Ocean region in order to protect its interests and strategic preponderance. India’s Indian Ocean strategy has, among other things, focused on countering the growing Chinese influence among the Indian Ocean littoral countries. Nevertheless, it was seen that the UPA government did not show enough dynamism to formulate a strong Indian Ocean policy. The new government under Prime Minister Modi is seen to pursue an active Indian Ocean policy in pursuit of maritime power and influence. Thus, the paper seeks to study the evolution and variations in the strategies adopted by the UPA and NDA rule towards the Indian Ocean. Among other things, the paper also tries to explore how China figures in India’s strategic ambitions in the sea.

Strategic design practices in digital innovation: Findings from strategic design projects with industry

Abstract Such is the prevalence of digital systems within today’s organizations that design projects that deal with digital subject matter are inherently strategic. Therefore, the aim of this article is to contribute an understanding of how design practices in digital innovation are informed by strategic renewal. To pursue this inquiry, the article seeks to understand how strategic designers operate in ill-defined but opportunity-rich contexts on projects that concern digital innovation. A practice-led methodology is applied to document an engagement with a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm for ten weeks – with six design teams responding to design briefs set by the client. The findings are that strategic designers apply design methods and techniques to translate technology-centred briefs into fundamentally human-centred problems to be solved. The strategic ambitions of the client and human-centred emphasis can guide designer practice during the otherwise uncertain and complex journey of digital innovation. Further, this article contributes new knowledge regarding strategic design practice and the nature of hidden constraints that are present during digital innovation.

Towards a computational cultural policy studies: examining infrastructures of taste and participation

Like other disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, cultural policy studies has had to respond to the influence of computing technologies. Researchers have explored the changes wrought to the management of cultural organisations, to the models of the creative industries and to new forms of access to culture and the arts. This paper suggests that these emphases might miss how computing technologies are re-shaping the project of cultural policy in a more fundamental direction. The paper draws on the work concerned with the cultural values of computing technologies and their influence on contemporary modes of government. These values, of instrumental reason, categorisation and calculation underpin a range of technologies, which are increasingly present in and important to the management of everyday life. Reflecting on how cultural taste and participation are being re-shaped by computing technologies, the paper argues these infrastructures are informed by specific visions of the kinds of people who live with and through them and how such people can be governed. The long-standing focus of cultural policy studies – about how states are concerned with the cultural formation of their citizens – are keenly present in the strategic ambitions and imperatives associated with computation.

India–US Defence Cooperation: Assessing Strategic Imperatives

Over the last decade or so, especially during much of Barack Obama’s presidential tenure, the defence sector has become the focus area of cooperation between India and the US. India’s engagement with the US in the area of defence is riding on a new-found realism that drives both countries’ strategic aspirations. This article attempts to recount important developments between India and the US in the defence sector in the last decade, primarily focussing on the developments during the Obama administration, and analyse their strategic implications for both the countries. The article ends with a brief assessment of transition under Trump presidency.

An outline of border changes in the area between the Baltic and the Mediterranean: Their geopolitical implications and classification

This article deals with changes in political boundaries, border regimes and border policies that have taken place in the area between the Baltic and the Mediterranean, which corresponds in the broadest sense with the term ‘Europe-in-between’. An important generator of problems here has been the multi-ethnic composition of the population, a source of diffuse political processes often even giving rise to conflict. Border policies have served as indicators of the relationships pertaining between countries, though they have an even broader exponent relating EU policies and peacekeeping missions, among other things, and thus offering nothing less than a laboratory for geopolitics both old and new. In the three parts present here, the first represents a short theoretical discussion concerning national systems, while the second offers an empirical analysis of border changes and policies in the area stretching from Kaliningrad to the Bosphorus and Trieste. Finally, a third, synthetic, part discusses recent challenges to border policies in the area in question posed by processes of European integration, as set against the new security paradigms of our era. Particular emphasis is placed on strong immigration pressure, pan-Turkish strategic aspirations, the Balkan area and its policies and the relationship between the EU and Russia.

Nesting Crises

Responding to crises leads to a shift in priorities and actions, with this affecting the achievement of longer-term strategic ambitions. This paper contributes to understandings of governing crises by exploring the tension between short-term crisis response and the achievement of longer-term policy goals, through the discussion of the Covid-19 pandemic and localised decarbonisation ambitions in Greater Manchester. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Greater Manchester outlined ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038 through the use of a place-based approach. Greater Manchester has been subject to a range of lockdown restrictions throughout the pandemic, with all aspects of society being impacted including decarbonisation ambitions. Thus providing a useful case study for understanding the impact that Covid-19 has had on the development and implementation of Greater Manchester's decarbonisation ambitions. Within this focus is placed on the opportunities and constraints experienced.A total of 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders associated with Greater Manchester's decarbonisation ambitions between October 2020 and April 2021. Stakeholders interviewed included regional and local government, academics, community organisations, non-profit organisations and activist groups. Novel insights obtained through the stakeholder interviews highlight how Covid-19 has simultaneously constrained and provided opportunities for decarbonisation in Greater Manchester. Based upon the experiences of the stakeholders interviewed, 4 crises which have affected the achievement of longer-term decarbonisation ambitions have been identified – a communication crisis, an engagement crisis, a participation crisis and crises of temporality. The crises identified and discussed either emerged or intensified as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although these crises are discussed in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on decarbonisation, the learnings identified can be applied to other crises and long-term strategic ambitions.

Putting Person Centred Pathways into Practice

The Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA) is an NHS membership organisation based in the North West of England. AQuA has extensive experience of supporting and enabling change on a system wide basis over the past six years. In addition, AQuA has supported members to put patients and their families at the heart of the services they commission and provide, by ensuring their views are heard and they are involved in the review, design and improvement of services. In 2016, supported by a grant from the Health Foundation, AQuA undertook a 90-day rapid review into Whole System Flow across care systems. This created a huge amount of energy and interest from our members and so a 12 month discovery programme was developed. As part of this work, we piloted a programme with two localities to test the hypothesis ‘co-designing and commissioning services which are person centred will improve whole system flow, quality and cost’. We developed improvement plan outlines with each locality that were both cognisant of local context and also challenged the teams to consider a strategic ambition for testing coproduction and person centred approaches and improving whole system flow . The presentation will describe the programme of work and the key learning emerging from the pilot sites. We will describe how enabling a person centred approach to service design can deliver improved safety; productivity and experience of care. We will also share the operational, engagement and leadership challenges faced and describe the potential for increased coproduction within health and care services. The presentation will suggest how this approach can be replicated by commissioners, particularly where health and social care systems and their communities are coming together to jointly commission services for a defined population. Targeted population and stakeholders: The presentation will be of interest to NHS and Social Care Leaders and clinicians working in Primary Care, Commissioning, Acute hospitals, Mental Health, Community and Specialist services, patient leaders and involvement groups.

Dubai’s Private School Fees Framework: A Critical Discussion

90% of the Dubai’s K-12 educational provision is in the hands of the private sector, with the majority of schools operating on a for-profit basis. Demand for private schooling is unabated. In its attempt to strike a balance between consumer protection and continuing to attract private investment to address the shortage of school places, Dubai’s newly appointed regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), introduced the School Fees Framework (SFF) in 2012. This article explores the circumstances that led to the framework’s creation, and attempts to document its development. It also analyses the SFF’s objectives, how these relate to KHDA’s strategic aspirations, and the extent to which the SFF’s objectives are indeed achievable. Through linking fee increases with school ratings, the KHDA had hoped to achieve one of its main goals: raising educational standards. Early evidence suggests that this approach has in fact caused a widening of the achievement gap between ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ schools in an industry that is already highly stratified by pricing.

Managing talent in emerging economy multinationals: integrating strategic management and human resource management

Having established their first overseas operation, the next big challenge for many emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) is to align their HRs with their strategic ambition. Their lack of internationally experienced talent has become a major obstacle to strategy implementation: they need to fill leadership roles with international responsibility based abroad and at home, and they need to develop talent for future international leadership roles. The key challenge for catch-up strategies thus is to attract, develop, and retain talents who can lead international operations. In this paper, we develop a research agenda on strategic management and HRM in EMNEs that aims to explain the obstacles EMNEs face and facilitates the development of better talent management practice. In particular, we propose to integrate strategic management and HRM perspectives not only to advance theories but to enhance the relevance of both lines of scholarship to practice.

“THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF THE FUTURE”: DECOLONIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE AMERICAN EMBRACE OF GLOBAL ENGLISH, 1945–1965

The two decades following the Second World War were marked by geopolitical and pedagogical ferment, as researchers and policymakers debated the role of language teaching in a rapidly changing world. As European empires collapsed amid Cold War competition for global influence, limited colonial education systems gave way to new discourses connecting postcolonial educational expansion, international development aid, and language teaching. This article reveals increasing American interest in the connections between development and vehicular English from 1945 to 1965. Drawing on the work of anglophone reformers, American elites promoted English as a development tool, and institutionalized policies designed to spread it abroad. The rise of the idea of global English in the United States, the article shows, was rooted in an instrumental conception of language, which framed English as a politically neutral vehicle for communication, yet this discourse was contradicted by the United States’ strategic ambitions.

Choose Your Weapon: The Impact of Strategic Considerations and Resource Constraints on Terrorist Group Weapon Selection

ABSTRACTHistorians of terrorism note that modern terrorists rely almost exclusively on two weapon types: the gun and the bomb. However, the comparative use of these weapons differs from one terrorist group to the next. We exploit this variation to examine how the tactical decisions of terrorists respond to both strategic aspirations and resource constraints. We argue that a group’s goals (a strategic consideration) and size (a resource constraint) provide a parsimonious explanation for weapon selection. Because firearms inherently expose the shooter to higher risk, are more precise, and must be used if a group aspires to maintain social order, they are unlikely to be used by groups with limited recruits in a campaign of violence. We test this theory using data on over 350 terrorist organizations. Our analysis shows that strategic considerations and resource constraints both impact tactical choices, although groups with the most expansive goals, those which transcend national borders, as well as militias, are two interesting exceptions to our theory. Our research has implications for the use of disaggregated tactical data and in furthering our understanding of the rationality of terrorism.

English

As China’s economy rise in the world order, there is a higher demand for more resources in Africa. China has relative scarcity of crucial resources notably oil, gas, and minerals. The growing China-Africa relation is seen by some international relation scholars as part of the “foundation” on which their broader strategic ambitions are built. It is from this perspective that the growing relation seems to suggest that Africa is somehow “critical” for Chinese economy. Africa’s rich natural resources and underdeveloped market create abundant business potential for Chinese products. China’s interests in Africa not only include economic interests but also political, security and ideological interests. This rapidly evolving relationship presents opportunities and challenges for Africa. Chinese trade, investment and infrastructure aid are fundamentally re-shaping Africa’s economies. Nevertheless, the rise of China is also posing a ‘security dilemma’ in the global balance of power. U.S being a super power is not happy with the rise of China. US sees Africa continent hungry for their investment, expertise, and rule of law. However, there are contentious issues affecting this relationship: African continent was a victim of ‘western colonization’ and ‘strings attached’ approaches. ‘Strings attached’ approach is brought about by quasi- state actors and is often being criticized by most Africa leaders for meddling with internal affairs of some Africa states and also making the continent dependent on western foreign aid. This paper offers a critical analysis of the China’s-Africa relations and conflicts in Africa, using Sudan as case study. This paper examines how china’s activities in Africa are contributing to conflicts by looking at the transfer of Chinese-made arms to Sudan in the name of acquiring oil to protect her national interests. Key words: ‘Balance of power, quasi-state actors, resources, conflict, colonialism.

Public procurement as a policy tool: using procurement to reach desired outcomes in society

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue and outline its major themes and challenges, their relevance and the research opportunities the field presents.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews prior literature and outlines the need to view public procurement as a policy tool to introduce the contributions to this special issue.FindingsPublic procurement has been consistently used to further public policies in a wide range of fields. The collection of articles in this special issue contributes to a broader understanding of the role and potential of public procurement in delivering desired policy outcomes in society. The articles show that public procurement largely has strategic aspirations, and its potential to deliver on wider societal issues is attractive to policy makers. The issues raised in this collection of articles, however, also demonstrate that public procurement often lacks strategic maturity and critical issues, notably around how to demonstrate and evaluate its impact and “success”.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper aims to stimulate interdisciplinary research into the role of public procurement as a policy tool and its ability to achieve public value.Originality/valueThis paper discusses theoretical and empirical findings that highlight the importance of public procurement for achieving public value. The special issue examines the interdisciplinary literature on public procurement and shows how it is being used to achieve public value.

Has Financial Crisis Affected the Announcement Gains of Indian Cross-border Acquisitions?

The failure of an unparalleled large number of financial institutions during the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 resulted in a freeze of global credit markets. The financial crisis has affected the capital markets around the world. In contrast, the global financial crisis has facilitated the strategic asset-seeking ambitions of emerging market multinationals. The objective of the present article is to examine the market response to cross-border acquisition by Indian companies during 2003– 2015 by conducting event study. We have also compared the acquisition gains before and after the financial crisis. The acquisition gains for the event window (–1, 1) are 2.06 per cent for the entire period 2003–2015 for a sample of 430 announcements. Two-thirds of the acquisitions experienced positive abnormal returns. The abnormal returns are positive and significant for the entire event window of 41 days. The empirical findings also suggest that the CAAR on the event day for pre-crisis period is 4.28 per cent compared to CAAR of 1.70 per cent during post-crisis period. Results are statistically significant. It is evident that market response has muted after the financial crisis.

The Merger of Geely Automobile and Volvo Car Corporation as an Example of the Expansion of Chinese Capital in the Automotive Sector

One of the crucial forms of the expansion of Chinese companies into new markets over the last decade has been the increasing pace and scale of conducted mergers and acquisitions, as well as inter-regional agreements, such as joint ventures. The value of agreements such as mergers and acquisitions, established by Chinese companies worldwide in the year of 2015 reached a record level of $477.2 billion, far exceeding the results of the previous year, what demonstrates the growing openness of the Chinese investors to cooperation with foreign partners. The fields in which Chinese companies have invested the most in recent years are: energy, real estate, finances, automotive, metals, agriculture and technology. The article presents the effects of the merger concluded in 2010 by a Chinese passenger car manufacturer Geely Automobile with the Swedish company Volvo. The presented example of the expansion of Chinese capital in the automotive sector has been one of the most important investments ever made by the Chinese company on the foreign market. The basis of the analysis made by the author were the results obtained from annual financial reports, published by the mentioned companies. They allowed the assessment of changes in the position of the examined Chinese corporation by using such financial and marketing measures as: market share, market value of the company, value of companys revenues, the popularity of the brand and its image. Comparative analysis of the development of these indicators before and after the merger shows that the actions of Geely Automobile, effectively led to the strengthening of the company’s potential, as well as to the increase of its competitiveness on both the domestic and international markets, while its strategic aspirations allow to expect further dynamic growth and development of the company on the international arena.

Diagnostic Care Pathways in Dementia.

Objectives: Increasing diagnostic rates of dementia is a national health priority; to meet this priority, improvement needs to be made to diagnostic services. It has been increasingly recognized that primary can play a significant role in the diagnostic journey for people with dementia, with some diagnostic services entirely located in primary care. This article reviews the extent of the involvement of primary care in diagnostic care pathways for people presenting with memory complaints within England, and presents examples of innovative approaches, which may be of interest to practitioners. Method: A rapid review was undertaken to identify articles outlining diagnostic care pathways for dementia involving primary care in England. Results: Six articles relating to pathway evaluations and innovative approaches involving primary care were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. Conclusions: The review found examples of diagnostic pathways and innovative practices being implemented in in primary care. These practices aligned to the strategic ambitions of the National Dementia Strategy. However, it was widely acknowledged that there is a need to improve postdiagnostic pathways; in particular, access to postdiagnostic support. This issue is being reflected in contemporary policy initiatives such as the Department of Health’s 2016 Joint Declaration on postdiagnostic dementia care and support.

China-India Growing Strides for Competing Strategies and Possibility of Conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region

As competing strategies between China and India are being played out in the Asia–Pacific region, competition, cooperation, and containment have become the common practices between these regional powers. However, the possibility of conflict, which may not be in the interest of any regional or extra-regional powers, cannot be ignored. In this context, it needs to be observed closely as to what strategic approaches are prioritized and played out by these competing powers. If both China and India tend to keep their deterrent forces limited and stay within their legitimate continental and maritime domains without necessarily threatening or decreasing the security of other states – that is, to stay defensive rather than aggressive and escalatory – the prospect for conflict diminishes. However, if both India and China strategically pose more assertions and expand their strategic imperatives, then this could have certain strategic repercussions that might invite conflict in the region. This article addresses the competing strategies played out between China and India. It discusses the strategic aspirations, force modernization and the possibility of conflict between these two regional powers in the Asia–Pacific region. It also discusses the strategic imperatives of cooperation, containment, and competition between the regional powers, as well as how and under what hypothetical scenario the possibility of conflict between the two states might be increased.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OF THE ISPRS STUDENT CONSORTIUM

The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Student Consortium (SC) is a network for young professionals studying or working within the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and other related geo-spatial sciences. The main goal of the network is to provide means for information exchange for its young members and thus help promote and integrate youth into the ISPRS. Over the past four years the Student Consortium has successfully continued to fulfil its mission in both formal and informal ways. The formal means of communication of the SC are its website, newsletter, e-mail announcements and summer schools, while its informal ones are multiple social media outlets and various social activities during student related events. The newsletter is published every three to four months and provides both technical and experiential content relevant for the young people in the ISPRS. The SC has been in charge or at least has helped with organizing one or more summer schools every year. The organization's e-mail list has over 1,100 subscribers, its website hosts over 1,300 members from 100 countries across the entire globe, and its public Facebook group currently has over 4,500 joined visitors, who connect among one another and share information relevant for their professional careers. These numbers show that the Student Consortium has grown into a significant online-united community. The paper will present the organization’s on-going and past activities for the last four years, its current priorities and a strategic plan and aspirations for the future four-year period.

The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT)--A Rich Heritage En Route to an Exciting Future.

The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT)--A Rich Heritage En Route to an Exciting Future.

Governor and course leaders’ reflections on HE in FE: strategic ambition and curriculum practice in two large colleges in England

In the turbulent ‘dog eat dog’ environment of the learning and skills sector in England the provision and expansion of higher education taught in further education colleges (HE in FE) offers potential opportunities for greater diversification of higher education. However, it also presents significant challenges, which include developing an HE culture, managing shifting partnerships, and ensuring the curriculum meets benchmarks for quality and standards of provision. This article uses principles of appreciative enquiry to explore the experience, potential and challenge of growing HE in FE in two large colleges, one located in an urban area and the other in a rural region of central England. Both colleges reflect similarities and differences in their strategy and delivery of HE in FE and neither uses the term ‘further’ to describe its provision. This shift in branding reflects the strategic ambitions of governors and senior leaders as the curriculum offer is no longer general ‘further education’ but much more diverse, and includes HE courses delivered in partnership with four universities. Using data from governing bodies, cross-college committees and course leaders we reflect on the spaces and places for growing HE in FE and the challenges it poses for governors, leaders, tutors and students.